Queensrÿche- Operation: Mindcrime – 2LP Review

8th July 2021 0 By Jon Deaux

The Queensrÿche album Operation: Mindcrime was a game changer of an album. Released back in 1988, Operation: Mindcrime is one part concept album, 1 part rock opera. It’s often lauded as a masterpiece and should be held in high regard next to it’s peers like Pink Floyds The Wall, W.A.S.P The Crimson Idol, The Who‘s Tommy and Jeff Waynes War Of The Worlds.

This version of the album is newly mastered at Abbey Road Studios. It’s pressed onto 180gm audiophile vinyl and spread over 4 sides. It sounds immense. It’s alive, vibrant and all the highs and lows hitting in all the right places.

I’ve had numerous copied of this album over the years. The original 1st press on record, which sounded crap due to the high compression used to get all the songs to fit on 1 record.

The cassette sounded good the first few times it was played and then of course the gremlins ate it. The original CD press was also iffy sounding. Just muddy and lifeless. This is the best version I have owned to date.

The story is still stupidly intricate and thanks to this version you can fully appreciate what Dr X is putting Nikki through.