Band:	Queensrÿche
Album:	American Soldier
Style:	Progressive heavy metal
Release date:	March 31, 2009
A review by:	BitterCOld

01. Sliver
02. Unafraid
03. Hundred Mile Stare
04. At 30,000 Ft.
05. A Dead Man's Words
06. The Killer
07. Middle Of Hell
08. If I Were King
09. Man Down!
10. Remember Me
11. Home Again
12. The Voice

"American Soldier" marks the 10th studio release for the Seattle based Prog-Metalers.

The album draws it's inspiration from the trials and travails of, well, as the title suggests, American soldiers. What makes this concept particularly interesting is the approach that Geoff Tate and Co. took. It is not a political statement. It does not portray the soldiers as being "just like pawns in chess" nor does the album portray them in a jingoistic "boot up yer ass!" way. It offers the unique approach of the songs portraying the thoughts of the soldiers themselves - with solemn reflections of sacrifice, whether it's the loss of a comrade in battle or the separation from their family.

Tate went to great lengths to get the stories of veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Somalia, and the current conflict in Iraq. He received emails and phone messages of veterans and set up follow-up interviews with the service members. The end result of dozens upon dozens of interviews is that the album carries a great deal of authenticity with it.

Musically the album is predominantly mid-paced and fairly somber. When looking at an album centered around troops at war with song titles like "Killer", "The Middle of Hell", and "Man Down!" you might expect a couple scorchers - admittedly, I, coming from a primarily more aggressive metal background, had hoped for a couple - but the album is actually better served by keeping the tempo in check, as it maintains that somber atmosphere.

Geoff Tate's vocals are unmistakably his. If you've ever heard Queensryche before, you know what to expect. His voice is emotive that he does a good job in conveying the feelings of the soldiers whose stories he is trying to present. He still has the power to make his pipes soar a bit from time to time, but as with the musical tempo a lot of the vocals are a bit subdued.

One particularly interesting track, from the vocal perspective, is "Home Again" in which he performs a duet of sorts with his daughter, Emily. The song centers around two perspectives - that of the soldier abroad missing his child and the daughter at home longing for the return of her father. Perhaps because Emily has grown up with similar feelings with her dad being on the road for extended periods, there is an honesty in her voice which makes the song compelling.

This marks the first QR album in which Michael Wilton shoulders all guitar duties. While most of the songs are a bit subdued - fitting with the thematic atmosphere of the album as a whole - he does show off his chops with a couple good riffs like in "Unafraid" and with a few flashy solos -again, "Unafraid" comes to mind, as does "Man Down!"

Eddie Jackson's bass and Scott Rockenfield's drums are featured prominently audible in the mix and do a good job of driving some of the song forward while the guitar work focuses in a more atmospheric over riffing approach. They do a great job in carrying the songs.

Clips of the various interviews Tate conducted find themselves sprinkled throughout the album, helping set a poignant backdrop for some of the songs, and in the case of "Unafraid" make up the entirety of the verse section of the song construction, with Tate appearing only to sing the chorus. This approach was a good call in the studio booth as the snippets augment Geoff's lyrics.

Honestly, strictly from a musical perspective, I'd probably rate this album either between a 6.75 to a 7. The band is full of good musicians who have mastered their craft. The songs could perhaps be more varied in tempo - again the thrash freak in me is craving for a kicked up song or two. Sonically, it left me wanting a bit more.

However, the strength of the album is the concept, the stories. It was a difficult path to take - trying to write to reflect the strength, sacrifice, and raw emotions of the fighting man without politicizing it or taking some idealistic approach to the soldier could not have been an easy task. Trying to write a song like "If I Were King" about a man who lost a good friend in battle and who feels survivor's guilt for it - and being true to that soldier - is a tall order.

And again, the music does a good job in matching the mood of the songs, and that's a hell of a lot more important than showing off. Atmosphere counts and some times what you can play takes a back seat to what you are trying to convey.

High points for me - "100 Mile Stare", "Man Down!", "Home Again"