Operation: Mindcrime II

Operation: Mindcrime II
Studio album by Queensrÿche
Released	March 29, 2006
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Heavy metal, progressive metal
Length	59:43
Label	Rhino Entertainment
Producer	Queensrÿche & Jason Slater
Queensrÿche chronology
Tribe (2003) Operation: Mindcrime II (2006) Mindcrime at the Moore (2007)
Singles from Operation: Mindcrime II
"I'm American" Released: 2006 "The Hands" Released: 2006

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[1]
Allmusic	[2]

Operation: Mindcrime II is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Queensrÿche. It is a concept album and the sequel to the group's 1988 release, Operation: Mindcrime. The album was released on April 4, 2006 in North America, (March 29, 2006 release in Japan, March 31 in Germany, April 3 rest of world) on the Rhino Entertainment label. The lead single, "I'm American," was performed by Queensrÿche during their 2005 tour in support of Judas Priest.

The album resumes the story of Nikki, a drug-addicted political revolutionary assassin who was arrested for the murder of enslaved prostitute-nun Sister Mary at the end of Operation: Mindcrime. As Operation: Mindcrime II begins, 18 years later, Nikki is released from prison and begins to plot his revenge against Dr. X, the manipulative villain of the first album.

Vocalist Pamela Moore reprised her role as Sister Mary for the album, while the role of Dr. X (played by actor Anthony Valentine on the first album) was taken over by heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio.

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart at #14, the highest chart position for a Queensrÿche album since Promised Land peaked at #3 in 1994. The tracks "I'm American" and "The Hands" have been released as singles with accompanying videos.

Track listing

Standard
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Freiheit Ouvertüre"	Eddie Jackson, Jason Slater, Mike Stone	1:35
2.	"Convict"	Geoff Tate	0:08
3.	"I'm American"	Slater, Stone, Tate	2:53
4.	"One Foot In Hell"	Slater, Stone, Tate	4:12
5.	"Hostage"	Jackson, Tate, Michael Wilton	4:29
6.	"The Hands"	Slater, Tate, Wilton	4:36
7.	"Speed of Light"	Slater, Stone, Tate	3:12
8.	"Signs Say Go"	Slater, Stone, Tate	3:16
9.	"Re-Arrange You"	Slater, Stone, Tate	3:11
10.	"The Chase"	Slater, Stone, Tate	3:09
11.	"Murderer?"	Slater, Tate, Wilton	4:33
12.	"Circles"	Jackson, Slater, Tate	2:58
13.	"If I Could Change It All"	Slater, Stone, Tate	4:27
14.	"An Intentional Confrontation"	Slater, Stone, Tate	2:32
15.	"A Junkie's Blues"	Slater, Stone, Tate	3:41
16.	"Fear City Slide"	Slater, Stone, Tate	4:58
17.	"All the Promises"	Slater, Stone, Tate	5:10

The Band

• Geoff Tate - vocals
• Michael Wilton - guitars
• Mike Stone - guitars, vocals
• Eddie Jackson - bass guitar, vocals
• Scott Rockenfield - drums

Story

The story picks up 18 years after the events of Operation: Mindcrime, on the day that Nikki is released from prison. During his incarceration, Nikki has been unable to let go of his hatred for Dr. X, who has since become rich and powerful. Nikki still harbors resentment against the American government, which he still views as corrupt and beyond saving. The training (or brainwashing) he received from Dr. X still has a strong hold over Nikki, but he is conflicted nonetheless. While he still feels the need to carry out his revolutionary mission, his thoughts drift to Mary.

Nikki lands himself in trouble with the law once again, and at his trial his pleas for mercy and leniency are lost on a judge and jury still remembering his past crimes. This only deepens his disdain for the government, the legal system and Dr. X, whom he blames for all of his problems. After Nikki escapes and finds himself yet again on the run from the law, his own need for revenge coupled by a vision of Mary's ghost turns his thoughts toward killing Dr. X.

As a confrontation gets closer, Nikki starts to have doubts. He questions himself and wonders if it isn’t really his own fault that his life is as bad as it is. Nikki does finally track down Dr. X and kills him. Wondering whether the killing has really made anything better, Nikki becomes further consumed by doubt and despair. The ghost of Mary appears again and angrily exhorts Nikki to kill himself. He starts to think that he is insane and commits suicide. As the album ends, Nikki's spirit is reunited with Mary's, and together they reflect that the only times they were happy were in the moments they were together.

The story of Operation: Mindcrime II was also expanded on with video and actors during Queensrÿche's live performance of the album.

Personnel

Band

• Geoff Tate - vocals
• Michael Wilton - guitars
• Mike Stone - guitars, vocals
• Eddie Jackson - bass guitar, vocals
• Scott Rockenfield - drums

with

• Miranda Tate - backing vocals on "The Hands"

Cast

• Ronnie James Dio - Dr. X
• Pamela Moore - Sister Mary

Production

• Jason Slater - production, recording and mixing
• Ashif Hakik - orchestral arrangements
• John Greenham - mastering

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
2006	The Billboard 200	14
	Top Internet Albums	14

References

1. ^ http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/queensryche.htm
2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r818935

External links

• Official web page
• Review of Operation:Mindcrime II