Capitol/EMI have a knack for taking back catalogue pieces and recycling them into ‘must-have’ collector’s items and this release is no different.
Originally released in 1988, Operation:Mindcrime became Queensryche’s defining album and is considered by many to be the best prog rock album ever. The neo-political good versus evil concept born out of Geoff Tate’s observations of real life figures in a Montreal bar and set to hard driving music, at the time, seemed like a foolish move for the band to consider, but now it would be hard to imagine what would have become of Queensryche without its release.
This Deluxe Edition remaster (three discs) offers the original album with two bonus tracks as well as the entire Hammersmith Odeon 1990 Operation:Mindcrime live recording which truly captures the essence of the band and album. It also marks the first release of Video:Mindcrime on DVD.
Originally released on VHS tape in 1989, Video:Mindcrime culls together the eight promo clips made to support the album. The DVD also offers ‘The Making Of Operation:Mindcrime’ and ‘Operation:Mindcrime TV Spot’ as previously unreleased bonus footage.
All in all this ‘deluxe edition’ takes a grand album and makes it grander. Even if you already own the album this is worth buying.
**** 1/2
