Almost 40 years ago (well, 39, actually), one of the most talented, progressive rock/metal bands, Queensrÿche, released their landmark album Rage for Order. It was their second full-length studio album after The Warning, which had some of their best earlier songs on it.
With compositions like ‘The Lady Wore Black’ and the nine-plus-minute-long ‘Roads to Madness,’ fans were expecting intricate guitar-driven music along with poignantly perceptive lyrics. Queensrÿche righteously delivered.
Rage for Order’s Release and Original Cover Art
At that point in the mid-1980s, with metal and glam rock popular, it was hard to classify Queensrÿche. They didn’t fit into any category, as their music wasn’t about women or fast cars. Queensrÿche was not as heavy as other metal groups like Metallica or Motörhead. Although guitar-driven, the band didn’t rely on the typical chord progression that one would find in such music. Lyrically, Queensrÿche often hit upon topics such as political unrest and other controversial subjects.
Rage for Order had the five band members wearing makeup, but not like what you would see with the likes of Poison or Mötley Crüe. It was more vampiric in its stark effect. The 11 songs on the record dealt with conspiracy, politics, stalking, some were about love, and even the subject of AI. The original cover art had blue in the ring around the band symbol, the trirÿche. It was later changed to black.
Rage for Order: Reception and Other Albums
For the most part, the album was well received. Because Queensrÿche was essentially constructing their own genre of music, some people, including critics, found it difficult to place them into a particular group.
Singer Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield joined forces with Hall & Oates producer Neil Kernon for this album. Kernon has been a prolific producer, working on literally thousands of projects. He has achieved over 100 gold and platinum certifications.
At the end of Rage for Order, the song ‘I Will Remember’ could be considered a lead-in to their next album, Operation: Mindcrime. The very first words on that album are “I remember now.” Operation: Mindcrime was also written as a story with sequential songs. It was more successful than Rage for Order, and it brought Queensrÿche into the hard rock mainstream with the powerfully haunting song ‘Eyes of a Stranger.’
The album told the story of a young man, Nicky, hopelessly in love with a prostitute, Mary. She becomes a nun while Nicky gets brainwashed by the mysterious Doctor X. Nicky goes to the church to profess his love for Mary and finds her dead at the altar. Who killed Mary? Each song on it marks pivotal points in the story. Why Queensrÿche’s Music is Still Relevant Today
Aside from controversial topics, politically charged lyrics, and prophetic songs about AI, the band has a superb production quality. They often play to the intelligence of their listeners. Observant fans found all sorts of themes in their music, which continues with their work today. Although the lineup is different, Queensrÿche is still releasing well-thought-out music for their longtime fans, while garnering new ones every day.
