Operation: Mindcrime II

Operation: Mindcrime II
Studio album by
Queensrÿche
ReleasedMarch 31, 2006
RecordedFebruary 28 – December 3, 2005
Studio
Genre
Length59:43
LabelRhino
ProducerJason Slater
Queensrÿche chronology
Tribe
(2003) 		Operation: Mindcrime II
(2006) 		Take Cover
(2007)
Singles from Operation: Mindcrime II
  1. "I'm American"
    Released: March 14, 2006[2]
  2. "The Hands"
    Released: May 16, 2006[3]
Audio sample
"I'm American"
Music video
I'm American on YouTube
Music video
The Hands on YouTube

Operation: Mindcrime II is the ninth studio album by the American progressive metal band Queensrÿche, released internationally on March 31, 2006, and in the United States on April 4, 2006.[4] It was the band's first album to be produced by Jason Slater.

It is a concept album and the sequel to the group's third studio album, Operation: Mindcrime (1988). The album resumes the story of Mindcrime, which is that of Nikki, a drug-addicted political revolutionary who had worked as an assassin before his disillusionment and arrest. Nikki had been jailed for the murder of prostitute-turned-nun Sister Mary at the end of Mindcrime, with his sanity slipping as he genuinely didn't know who had killed Mary and had grown close to her before her death. As Mindcrime II begins, eighteen years later, Nikki is released from prison and begins to plot his revenge against Dr. X, a manipulative demagogue from the first album that had treated Nikki as his puppet.

Vocalist Pamela Moore reprises her role as Sister Mary for the album. The role of Dr. X (played by actor Anthony Valentine on the first album) went to famous heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio. Singer Geoff Tate handles the vocals for the protagonist.

Following the split between Geoff Tate and the rest of Queensrÿche in 2012, it was revealed in a sworn declaration by producer Jason Slater that the album received very limited contributions from the band members aside from Tate and Mike Stone. Much of the music was recorded by studio musicians due to conflicts between Tate and his bandmates.[5] Drummer Scott Rockenfield did not play on the album at all. As well, most of the guitars, including Michael Wilton's tracks, were re-recorded by engineer Mitch Doran.[6] Some of the bass tracks used are demo recordings played by Slater, while the drum track to "I'm American" is a MIDI recording made by Doran that was not originally intended for use on the final album.[6] Slater and Doran's bandmates from Snake River Conspiracy, Ashif Hakik and Matt Lucich also contributed with recordings for this album.

The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 43,773 copies in its first week,[7] and became the highest chart position for a Queensrÿche album since Promised Land peaked at No. 3 in 1994.[8] The tracks "I'm American" and "The Hands" have been released as singles, with accompanying music videos being created.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference about was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "queensryche.com :: news". queensryche.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "queensryche.com :: news". April 23, 2006. Archived from the original on April 23, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "queensryche.com :: news". queensryche.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist: GEOFF TATE Spat In My Face, Punched Me And Called Me A 'Pussy'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. July 11, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Producer, Session Guitarist Claim QUEENSRŸCHE Drummer Didn't Play On 'Operation: Mindcrime II'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. July 15, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  7. ^ "queensryche.com :: news". April 23, 2006. Archived from the original on April 23, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Queensrÿche Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved March 1, 2013.