A classic heavy metal album,with some real head banging classic songs like Breaking The Silence, I Don't Believe In Love, Revolution Calling, Eyes Of A Stranger and The Mission.

It's such a unique experience, and one of the best heavy metal concept album's i've heard, and probably the best at combining heavy metal with progressive elements.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 12.09.2021 at 18:35

A classic heavy metal album,with some real head banging classic songs like Breaking The Silence, I Don't Believe In Love, Revolution Calling, Eyes Of A Stranger and The Mission.

It's such a unique experience, and one of the best heavy metal concept album's i've heard, and probably the best at combining heavy metal with progressive elements.

Yes man, indeed, such a classic. Just saw that I never commented here.
Funnily, first time I listened to this album was no earlier than in 2003 or so.
It rivals Streets A Rock Opera for my favourite prog concept album ever.
I have always hailed Streets for this but today I guess that trophy would actually go to this masterpiece.
Only QR album I really enjoy though.

Suite Sister Mary is the only song I don't care aside from some short instrumental interludes and intros, but everything else is top notch.

Written by Redel on 12.09.2021 at 19:44


Yes man, indeed, such a classic. Just saw that I never commented here.
Funnily, first time I listened to this album was no earlier than in 2003 or so.
It rivals Streets A Rock Opera for my favourite prog concept album ever.
I have always hailed Streets for this but today I guess that trophy would actually go to this masterpiece.
Only QR album I really enjoy though.

It''s a shame QR never produced an album anywhere near the same quality as this, it's a one off masterpiece, and A Rock Opera was also a classic, I will have another listen to that one again sometime

Written by Metal Diogenes on 12.09.2021 at 20:12

Suite Sister Mary is the only song I don't care aside from some short instrumental interludes and intros, but everything else is top notch.

I agree, Suite Sister Mary is proberbly the weakest song for me too.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 12.09.2021 at 21:37

It''s a shame QR never produced an album anywhere near the same quality as this, it's a one off masterpiece, and A Rock Opera was also a classic, I will have another listen to that one again sometime

The s/t EP comes close in quality for me. The Warning is also quite nice. The rest of their catalogue is not for me.

Surpised to see Suite Sister Mary mentioned as a weak track - that's the real prog jewel in the crown that is Operation: Mindcrime - it's probably not my #1 song here (that's Eyes Of A Stranger), but it's a close second, with the likes of Spreading The Disease, The Mission and Breaking The Silence coming afterwards

Empire definitely has its moments, but is a far cry from this record

Written by musclassia on 12.09.2021 at 22:44

Surpised to see Suite Sister Mary mentioned as a weak track - that's the real prog jewel in the crown that is Operation: Mindcrime - it's probably not my #1 song here (that's Eyes Of A Stranger), but it's a close second, with the likes of Spreading The Disease, The Mission and Breaking The Silence coming afterwards

Empire definitely has its moments, but is a far cry from this record

That's what is so great about this album, while I consider Suite Sister Mary their weakest song, it's still a good one, and contributes importantly to the concept of the album, and I forgot to mention Eyes Of A Stranger, that is one of the best songs on the album, if not the best!

Written by musclassia on 12.09.2021 at 22:44

Surpised to see Suite Sister Mary mentioned as a weak track - that's the real prog jewel in the crown that is Operation: Mindcrime - it's probably not my #1 song here (that's Eyes Of A Stranger), but it's a close second, with the likes of Spreading The Disease, The Mission and Breaking The Silence coming afterwards

Indeed, Suite SIster Mary, STD, The Mission all among the better songs on this album, agreed.
Eyes of a Stranger best song, yes. I then have the title track second, and I dont Believe in Love following.

The songs are more catchy than Pop music, flawless songwriting

Still gives me goosepimples on every listen.

This album is absolutely fucking magical and probably still my favourite of all time. It was a big friend to me, as a 14 year old trying to understand this strange world and it's still completely engrossing in every way possible: the concept, the playing, the songs, Geoff Tate at the very height of his powers. As the user above states, this is 'flawless', indeed.

I've been listening to this classic quite a lot recently - so many great moments with no weak songs.

9.3/10 for me - 'Eyes Of A Stranger' is the standout track. 'Operation: Mindcrime', 'The Mission', 'The Needle Lies' and 'Breaking The Silence' are all also fantastic. 'Spreading The Disease' is the weakest song IMO, but still very good.

I remember now...

One of the alltime classics

Never understood why so many think the vocals are something.

Edit: "Suite Sister Mary" is a pretty good song and certainly the best track here. Overall I am tossing up between a 5 or a 6.

I've been unreasonably addicted to this album as of late, probably cause of the fact that the vocals are some of the best in prog metal in songs like Speak, Spreading The Disease and the emotional The Mission. Tate at his peak was untouchable. The drumming is also hella underappreciated.

Probably also for the fact that even after 40 something years it's somehow just as relevant. The actual story with Nikki, Sister Maria and Operation: Mindcrime is still interesting (You could make a whole Joseph Campbell-style Hero's Journey chart based on the adventure of Nikki, which is the mark of solid storytelling), and the lyrics remain sadly relevant.

"Seven years of power, the corporation claw
The rich control the government, the media, the law"
...
"The system we learn says we're equal under law
But the streets are reality, the weak and poor will fall"