Queensryche reissuing ‘Empire’ & ‘Operation: Mindcrime’ Deluxe Editions

Both albums available June 25th

Two Queensryche catalog albums are getting the deluxe treatment via Capitol Music Group. Operation: Mindcrime will see 4 CD/DVD, 2 CD and 2 LP configurations while Empire will get 3 CD/DVD, 2 CD and 2 LP sets on June 25th.

Newly mastered at Abbey Road Studios, the deluxe versions of these remarkable albums bring together all the available recordings in 10′′ x 10′′ boxes that also contain DVDs of accompanying promotional videos and live performances of the albums. The live audio material revisits Queensrÿche’s worldwide headlining status during the Building Empires Tour, an 18-month trek that saw the band headline arenas after previous high-profile supporting slots on the Def Leppard Hysteria and Metallica And Justice For All tours. The Operation: Mindcrime deluxe features live audio concerts from London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1990 and Wisconsin’s Target Center in 1991, plus a DVD that also includes the bonus track “The Making of Operation: Mindcrime” and an Operation: Mindcrime TV spot. The Empire deluxe version completes the Hammersmith Odeon 1990 concert with the live audio from the non-Mindcrime setlist. Geoff Tate, inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame, sheds new light on Operation: Mindcrime and Empire in extended interviews with noted journalist Alex Milas for the liner notes.

Queensrÿche’s third studio album, Operation: Mindcrime, took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine), Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, Operation: Mindcrime was certified platinum in 1991 in the US and was ranked in the Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that “nearly 30 years after its initial release, Mindcrime feels eerily relevant.”

Reaching No. 7 on the Billboard album chart, the follow-up, Empire, built upon the success of Operation: Mindcrime. Produced, like its predecessor, by Peter Collins (Bon Jovi, Rush, Alice Cooper), the collection features brilliant and intelligent lyrics and songwriting complemented by incredible musicianship, with songs ranging from beautiful ballads to strong melodic rockers and classic heavy fist-pumpers. A rarity at the time, Empire spawned six singles that lit up Billboard’s rock tracks chart with the Top 10 hits “Silent Lucidity” (No. 1), “Jet City Woman” (No. 6), “Another Rainy Night (Without You) (No. 7) and Top 30 hits “Anybody Listening? (No. 16), “Empire” (No. 22) and “Best I Can” (No. 28). The power ballad “Silent Lucidity” was the band’s first crossover hit, topping the Billboard rock singles chart and reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Silent Lucidity” also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and received an MTV “Viewer’s Choice” award. RIAA-certified 3x platinum, Empire is the band’s most commercially successful album to date.

Operation Mindcrime – 4 CD/DVD | 2 CD | 2 LP

CD 1: Original Album Remastered

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

CD 2: Bonus Tracks

1. I Don’t Believe In Love [Extended Version]
2. The Mission
3. My Empty Room
4. Interview With Queensryche – Speak The Word
5. Overseeeing The Operation [B-Side]
6. The Lady Wore Black
7. Roads To Madness

CD 3: Operation: Mindcrime Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London, England 1990

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

CD 4: Operation: Mindcrime Live From Wisconsin 1991

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

DVD: Operation: Mindcrime Live/Promo Videos

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger
16. I Remember Now
17. Anarchy-X [Promo Video]
18. Revolution Calling [Promo Video]
19. Operation: Mindcrime [Promo Video]
20. Speak [Promo Video])
21. Breaking The Silence [Promo Video]
22. I Don’t Believe In Love [Promo Video]
23. Waiting For 22 [Promo Video]
24. Eyes Of A Stranger [Promo Video]
25. Credits (Sister Mary Suite) [Promo Video]
26. The Making of Operation: Mindcrime
27. Operation: Mindcrime TV Spot

Empire – 3 CD/DVD | 2 CD | 2 LP

CD 1: Original Album Remastered

1. Best I Can
2. The Thin Line
3. Jet City Woman
4. Della Brown
5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
6. Empire
7. Resistance
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. One And Only
11. Anybody Listening?

CD 2: Bonus Tracks

1. Last Time In Paris
2. Scarborough Fair
3. Dirty Lil Secret
4. Silent Lucidity [Edit]
5. Empire [Edit]
6. I Dream In Infrared [Acoustic Version]
7. Prophecy [Live In Tokyo]
8. Best I Can [Radio Edit]
9. Anybody Listening? [Radio Edit]

CD 3: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London 1990

1. Resistance
2. Walk in The Shadows
3. Best I Can
4. Empire
5. The Thin Line
6. Jet City Woman
7. Roads To Madness
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. Take Hold Of The Flame

DVD: Live Performances/Promo Videos

1. Nightrider
2. Prophecy (Live In Tokyo 1983)
3. Gonna Get Close To You
4. Eyes of A Stranger [Alternate Version]
5. Empire
6. Best I Can
7. Silent Lucidity
8. Jet City Woman
9. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
10. Another Rainy Night (Without You) [Alternate Version]
11. Anybody Listening?
12. Resistance (Live)
13. Walk In The Shadows (Live)
14. The Thin Line (Live)
15. Take Hold Of The Flame (Live)
16. The Lady Wore Black (Live)
17. Silent Lucidity (Live)