GEOFF TATE’s OPERATION: MINDCRIME – Brisbane, Australia 30th January 2020
Queensrÿche have a fan base like Trekkies or Star Wars – completely devoted and subject to plenty of on- and offline debate about the merits of certain works. The progressive metal pioneers have also had their share of real-life drama, most notably during the band’s split from original vocalist Geoff Tate. Acres of copy have already been committed to this topic, but with the Todd Le Torre-fronted Queensrÿche having toured Australia, the people gathered tonight are definitely curious to see if Tate and his youthful backing band can still cut the mustard.
More on this later, but first there are a couple of excellent local bands who are demonstrative of the rich, diverse metal scene in Brisbane. The opening act of the evening is Seraphic, who specialise in a grandiose style of melodic metal, characterised by the bright, evocative piano and near-operatic vocal stylings of Sam Wolstenholme. This gives the music an epic, atmospheric edge, while guitarists Patrick Feagan and Raouf Araji showcase some flurrying solos and triumphant riffs. There’s even a tinge of extreme metal as bassist Michael Bates unleashes some harsh vocals in certain sections. Most recent single The Monster Within is one of the soaring highlights and it will be interesting to hear where this intriguing band goes next.
The Brissy action ensues with local thrashers Asylum, who deliver a thrilling, relentless set of hyper-paced heavy metal. The Exodus and Destruction T-shirts adorned by band members are something of a giveaway, as the set gallops along in a ‘80s manner reminiscent of both Teutonic and American thrash of the classic age. This is combined with the band’s undeniable energy to make one heck of an entertaining performance. Bassist/vocalist Jamie Stephenson’s Tom G Warrior-esque grunt is the gravy.
After the familiar introductory soundscape, Geoff Tate’s very young backing band tear into the instrumental Anarchy-X to set the scene, before the man himself stalks the stage for the anthemic Revolution Calling. Yep, this is a track-for-track performance of the classic Queensrÿche concept album Operation: Mindcrime. Everyone present agrees that the show is hugely entertaining. Tate’s vocals, while not what they once were, are solid throughout. Even better is his energy and charisma as a performer, seemingly disappearing into the Operation: Mindcrime story while, at the same time, keeping the audience happy and motivated. He radiates a very positive energy throughout the entire performance.
Killer versions of I Don’t Believe In Love and title track Operation: Mindcrime are dished out, as well as a cameo from Tate’s daughter Emily in the epic Suite Sister Mary. The stone-cold classic Eyes Of A Stranger closes off the album performance, before we get a four-song encore comprising tracks from another classic Queensrÿche album Empire – the title track, Jet City Woman, rock radio classic Silent Lucidity and, particularly, Best I Can all sound fantastic.
Combined with a great sound mix, and the skilled, energetic musicians, the result is a fantastic gig. Whatever dramas Geoff Tate has undergone in his life are shrugged off tonight. And everyone loves a redemption arc.
Reviewer: Matt Thrower
