QUEENSRYCHE · EMPIRE (Back On Black) | CLEAR 2LP

Black double vinyl in gatefold cover. Back On Black reissue.

Background information about ''

There are albums that define a band's legacy, and then there's "Empire" — the record that catapulted Queensrÿche from progressive metal darlings to bona fide arena conquerors. Originally unleashed in 1990, this is the fourth full-length from the Washington quintet, and man, does it hit different on vinyl. Clocking in as their most commercially successful release with triple-platinum status, "Empire" is a masterclass in balancing razor-sharp metal riffs with lush, atmospheric arrangements that still sound massive today.

The centerpiece? Without a doubt, the power ballad "Silent Lucidity" — a track so hauntingly beautiful it earned Grammy nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1992. But this album is far from a one-hit wonder. From the crushing opener "Best I Can" to the fan-favorite "Jet City Woman" and the epic title track, every damn song here has something to say. Geoff Tate's soaring vocals glide over Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton's twin guitar attack like a razor through velvet. The production is warm, wide, and wonderfully analog — exactly the kind of record that demands to be played loud on a proper turntable. This reissue on Back On Black gives it the treatment it deserves, spread across two LPs so nothing gets compressed or compromised.

For fans of:
Fates Warning, Crimson Glory, Dream Theater, Savatage

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. Best I Can
A2. The Thin Line
A3. Jet City Woman
B4. Della Brown
B5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
B6. Empire

LP 2:
C7. Resistance
C8. Silent Lucidity
C9. Hand On Heart
D10. One And Only
D11. Anybody Listening?

Manufacturer: 375 Media GmbH, Schlachthofstraße 36A, 21079 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: www.backonblack.com