Queensryche [EP]

EPs are rarely worth mentioning, but this one is an exception. Coming from Seattle before it was cool to do so, Queensryche screamed onto the metal scene in 1983 amidst galloping bass lines, thundering drums and harmonized guitar riffs, all top-notch performances, but what instantly put these guys over the top was the voice … Geoff Tate's huge range and unique delivery made these guys really stand out from the crowd. Queen of the Reich was, and is, a powerful introduction to the EP and the band. The opening minute of the song sonically separated them from most of their peers with some great musicianship and that famous scream that repeats throughout the song. It's balanced out nicely by the slow and haunting verses of The Lady Wore Black. All in all this was an impressive beginning for an impressive band that was a huge force in the genre for the next decade.--Scott