I recently read a review of Queensryche's latest material which stated that "Queensryche can do no wrong." I was somehow not assured that the writer truly judged the album based on its own merits, so I took the opportunity to perform my own analysis with great zeal. Conclusion: Another stellar album by one of the best musical groups of all time.
Many have said that Empire is not what they would have expected from Queensryche. But by expecting a Queensryche record to sound a certain way, they've only limited their own ability to hear the music. Empire proved, once again, that this band just keeps growing and maturing. Listen closely; the core sound is the same. hey just vary the applications of their vast resources, namely their talent and several hundred thousand dollars worth of recording equipment, to explore their own capabilities.
The socially responsive themes they have mastered are again present in "Della Brown" and in the title track. You'll also find the emphasis on the human element as in most of Queensryche's music. The most significant differences between Empire and other Queensryche albums are in its subtlety and the subject matter.
Empire sports at least four songs about love relationships. I say "at least" because the obscure and complex nature of their lyrics takes more than a second look to truly understand the intended meaning. In any case, this is unprecedented for the band. Empire is also a more subdued album than earlier efforts. You won't find quite the frenzied paranoia of The Warning or the psychotic turbulence of Rage for Order and Operation:mindcrime.
With or without these deviations, Empire is another killer Queensryche album, complete with widely varied rhythms, imaginative writing and subtle production trickery.