What a glorious day when you are handed The Verdict for an early listen. As a long-devoted fan of Queensrÿche I have seen all the ups and downs unfold over the past few years and like a phoenix from the flames Queensrÿche have risen and spread their wings with spectacular fashion. The Verdict is like nothing the fans have heard for many years, it oozes a heaviness that had gone missing but still stays true to its progressive roots.
The Verdict is the third album with Todd LaTorre at the helm taking on vocals and in this case the drumming duties as well while Scott Rockenfield took some time out for personal commitments. Todd is a seasoned professional behind the kit and he finds the perfect groove to accommodate the new music giving the album such a killer sound and taking us back to albums reminiscent of the glory days of Queensrÿche.
The album opens with Blood Of The Levant which has almost a tribal feel to it, it’s fast paced with driving guitar riffs and some intricate rudimental work from Todd on the snare. It sets the tone for the album and if this is any indication of the quality to come “Rychers” will be very pleasantly surprised. The first single Man The Machine follows on and I am sure fans would agree it could easily feel at home on The Warning, the vibe is there and the dueling guitars of Mike Wilton and Parker Lundgren are sensational. I can see why it was the first single, giving us a taste of why we all love this band and give them our continued support. Light Years slows the pace down slightly but fits the arc of the album and Todd’s vocals are exceptional, whether he is hitting the high notes or keeping the melodic lyrics centred he nails it.