Queensryche VS. Dream Theater, Modern Albums

Both bands have consistently put out albums in recent times.  I'd say it depends when you start the "modern era."  The last great DT album was 2004.  The last great Queensryche was a loooooooong time ago, but I find their output with Todd LaTorre more engaging than DT during the same time frame.  Latorre seems to have an ageless voice whilst Labrie has lost a few steps, but DT may sway me their way with the next album with Portnoy on the timekeeping apparatus.

I really like Distance Over Time and A View From the Top of the World. I have not really warmed up to the LaTorre era of Queensryche. Great voice but the songwriting loses me.

Not really fair for me to compare the two because I'm not a big DT fan.  But I certainly think the last few Ryche albums with LaTorre are really good and have been something of a comeback for the band.  Even being a Queensryche fan-boy, I would have to confess that the last "great" Ryche album was Promised Land from 1994.  I don't think the current line-up with LaTorre has topped that album, but they've come a lot closer than any of the albums with Tate after '94

I think DT is certainly a more progressive metal band than Queensryche is at this point.  That would lead me to think that those who love the prog-metal stuff would gravitate more towards DT.

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None.  I'd rather listen to albums from similar bands: they are higher quality and more enjoyable.  I don't have brand loyalty, I just want good music.

Temple of Blood wrote:None.  I'd rather listen to albums from similar bands: they are higher quality and more enjoyable.  I don't have brand loyalty, I just want good music.

I do too, so where’s that new ToB??? 

I haven’t kept up with DT, but I do know that I like Todd La Torre’s voice a lot better than James LeBrie’s. 

That said… new Queensryche isn’t anything exciting musically.

Have you guys really listened to new QR? I think if they had changed their name people would be more accepting but I really enjoy some of it.

Black Rider wrote:Have you guys really listened to new QR? I think if they had changed their name people would be more accepting but I really enjoy some of it.

Yes, I heard the last album “DNA” with the Billy Idol cover. It’s pretty good overall… but I much prefer the solo album from Todd. It’s heavy with lots of hooks and great production.

Black Rider wrote:Have you guys really listened to new QR? 

yes, but not the latest one and I didn't finish The Verdict

Let's be honest, QR is currently just a really good tribute band without DeGarmo and Tate.  I gave it enough of a chance.

Going to see them live in a few weeks

The worst thing that happened to Queensryche wasn't the firing of Tate.  It was the complacency of the other 3 remaining members letting Tate turn the band into a joke.
DeGarmo leaving wasn't a great thing either.

Since the addition of LaTorre they've parted ways with the original drummer Scott and I think they are left with an inability to write a full album of really good songs.  That doesn't mean all of the music is generic, but I don't think we are going to see a full album of fantastic songs from them again. Tate and DeGarmo were a really good song-writing team.

Staybrite wrote:The worst thing that happened to Queensryche wasn't the firing of Tate.  It was the complacency of the other 3 remaining members letting Tate turn the band into a joke.
DeGarmo leaving wasn't a great thing either.

Since the addition of LaTorre they've parted ways with the original drummer Scott and I think they are left with an inability to write a full album of really good songs.  That doesn't mean all of the music is generic, but I don't think we are going to see a full album of fantastic songs from them again. Tate and DeGarmo were a really good song-writing team.

TRUTH

I believe Rockenfield had health issues and couldn't play on the last album, so LaTorre did the drumming in Rockenfield's style.

Superjuice wrote:I believe Rockenfield had health issues and couldn't play on the last album, so LaTorre did the drumming in Rockenfield's style.

Actually their last two albums were without Rockenfield (sadly).  He took some kind of leave of absence for either his or his wife's health around the time they had a baby and the rest of the band claims they completely lost communication with him for over two years.  LaTorre recorded the drums for "The Verdict" in 2019 and Casey Grillo recorded drums on the recent "Digital Noise Alliance" 2022.  At this point I believe Rockenfield is suing the rest of the band members (Wilton and Jackson) for wrongful termination (or something along those lines)
The lawsuit drama behind this group is nearly as bad as Ratt.  If they keep going this way there will only be one original member.

I can't comment on Queensryche; I'm only discovering their music now. I'm thoroughly enjoying Operation Mindcrime these last few weeks; but that doesn't say anything about their new stuff.

My son and I are quite into DT, we've listened to all the albums, some of the bootlegs, and read/listened to alot of interviews. I've been super disappointed with the last 3 albums, and I only have a bit of optimism about the new one. I think DT has suffered from a weakness in songwriting--awesome arrangements can't save a sub-quality composition. And I think they are so entrenched in their current musical rut that I don't think they'll be able to change it.

Superjuice wrote:LaTorre did the drumming in Rockenfield's style.

He may have tried to but his drumming sounds nowhere near as good as Rockenfield.

Someone posted cellphone footage of their opening concert of their new tour. My son and I browsed through it. We were pretty disappointed with Labrie's vocals--they were very flat alot of the time. At least we know he wasn't lip syncing...

Was that because of the phone. I'm sure his voice isn't as strong.

Superjuice wrote:I believe Rockenfield had health issues and couldn't play on the last album, so LaTorre did the drumming in Rockenfield's style.

La Torre is actually a pretty good drummer! 

Listen to his work on his solo album.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Staybrite wrote:The worst thing that happened to Queensryche wasn't the firing of Tate.  It was the complacency of the other 3 remaining members letting Tate turn the band into a joke.
DeGarmo leaving wasn't a great thing either.

Since the addition of LaTorre they've parted ways with the original drummer Scott and I think they are left with an inability to write a full album of really good songs.  That doesn't mean all of the music is generic, but I don't think we are going to see a full album of fantastic songs from them again. Tate and DeGarmo were a really good song-writing team.

TRUTH

I don’t think Rockenfield was a songwriter in the band. He only came up with drum parts (which are a part of the music… but not the melodies, riffs or lyrics). 

His exit has nothing to do with the decline in quality songs. They have been on decline since Promised Land. I actually think their last quality album was Empire. Promise Land was the fade away…

The main reason for the terrible direction they took was Geoff Tate’s music taste and disdain for metal. Secondly, DeGarmo’s exit took away the guy that had the most songwriting integrity.

Black Rider wrote:Was that because of the phone. I'm sure his voice isn't as strong.

I don't think so, Black, but I'll wait for a few more videos to show up and compare. It does seem he's struggled a bit the last few years.

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Staybrite wrote:The worst thing that happened to Queensryche wasn't the firing of Tate.  It was the complacency of the other 3 remaining members letting Tate turn the band into a joke.
DeGarmo leaving wasn't a great thing either.

Since the addition of LaTorre they've parted ways with the original drummer Scott and I think they are left with an inability to write a full album of really good songs.  That doesn't mean all of the music is generic, but I don't think we are going to see a full album of fantastic songs from them again. Tate and DeGarmo were a really good song-writing team.

TRUTH

I don’t think Rockenfield was a songwriter in the band. He only came up with drum parts (which are a part of the music… but not the melodies, riffs or lyrics). 

His exit has nothing to do with the decline in quality songs. They have been on decline since Promised Land. I actually think their last quality album was Empire. Promise Land was the fade away…

The main reason for the terrible direction they took was Geoff Tate’s music taste and disdain for metal. Secondly, DeGarmo’s exit took away the guy that had the most songwriting integrity.

I would certainly agree with nearly of what you said.  But you also have to remember that DeGarmo has writing credit for 13 out of the 14 tracks on the less than stellar "Hear In The Now Frontier" album which he also performed on.  It wasn't until after that album and tour that he decided to leave the band.  So DeGarmo has to take credit for the beginning of the poorer song writing.  Heck they even coaxed him back temporarily to help write half of the "Tribe" album some 5 years later. So I really think DeGarmo's songwriting was suffering even before his exit.
Not only did Rockenfield not really write the songs, Wilton and Jackson (the last two original members) seldom contributed to more than 1 or 2 songs on each album typically themselves.  So the best song-writers of the original band are long gone and not even writing/creating great music themselves anymore.

Staybrite wrote:

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Staybrite wrote:The worst thing that happened to Queensryche wasn't the firing of Tate.  It was the complacency of the other 3 remaining members letting Tate turn the band into a joke.
DeGarmo leaving wasn't a great thing either.

Since the addition of LaTorre they've parted ways with the original drummer Scott and I think they are left with an inability to write a full album of really good songs.  That doesn't mean all of the music is generic, but I don't think we are going to see a full album of fantastic songs from them again. Tate and DeGarmo were a really good song-writing team.

TRUTH

I don’t think Rockenfield was a songwriter in the band. He only came up with drum parts (which are a part of the music… but not the melodies, riffs or lyrics). 

His exit has nothing to do with the decline in quality songs. They have been on decline since Promised Land. I actually think their last quality album was Empire. Promise Land was the fade away…

The main reason for the terrible direction they took was Geoff Tate’s music taste and disdain for metal. Secondly, DeGarmo’s exit took away the guy that had the most songwriting integrity.

I would certainly agree with nearly of what you said.  But you also have to remember that DeGarmo has writing credit for 13 out of the 14 tracks on the less than stellar "Hear In The Now Frontier" album which he also performed on.  It wasn't until after that album and tour that he decided to leave the band.  So DeGarmo has to take credit for the beginning of the poorer song writing.  Heck they even coaxed him back temporarily to help write half of the "Tribe" album some 5 years later. So I really think DeGarmo's songwriting was suffering even before his exit.
Not only did Rockenfield not really write the songs, Wilton and Jackson (the last two original members) seldom contributed to more than 1 or 2 songs on each album typically themselves.  So the best song-writers of the original band are long gone and not even writing/creating great music themselves anymore.

I think the change in styles did not play to Chris's strengths and helped him take an exit from the band.  We all know Tate's vision of the band began to dominate, since he was the star and he didn't like metal.  There's even an interview where DeGarmo was dissatisfied with the direction of the band right after they released Empire.  The interview didn't get released until the 2000's, because it was confidential.

https://www.loudersound.com/features/queensryche-the-dark-empire

Superjuice wrote:I think the change in styles did not play to Chris's strengths and helped him take an exit from the band.  We all know Tate's vision of the band began to dominate, since he was the star and he didn't like metal.  There's even an interview where DeGarmo was dissatisfied with the direction of the band right after they released Empire.  The interview didn't get released until the 2000's, because it was confidential.

https://www.loudersound.com/features/queensryche-the-dark-empire

I had never read that article, thanks for sharing.  It does seem to give a bit of insight as to why he might have left the band after two more albums (and about 8 more years).

Clearly DeGarmo was their creative leader, and just like James Hetfield he lost his way.