Tribe could be
seen as a sort of crossroads in Queensryche’s career. It certainly doesn’t
reach for their metal days, but it does have a unified lyrical theme and was
their last true band effort before their next three releases were handed off to
Geoff Tate’s entourage of outside writers. It even sees the brief return of
Chris DeGarmo as a session member, overshadowing guitarist Mike Stone’s
official addition to the group’s ranks in place of Kelly Gray.
Being the last part of what I’m now calling Queensryche’s Grunge
Trilogy, Tribe seems to serve as an
odd cross between Promised Land and Q2K. Just as it stays close to the
latter’s rhythmic emphasis and muddy guitar tone, it also has a contemplative
theme and might be their most laid back release to date. Of course, there are a
few songs like “Open” and the disjointed “Art Of Life” that are slightly
heavier than those on the last couple efforts, but they don’t feel out of place
with the album’s reflective outlook.
But even with DeGarmo’s contributions, there still aren’t many
changes to the band dynamic. “Open” does have the distinct honor of having the
first honest to God Queensryche riff since “Hit The Black” but there aren’t too
many intricate moments on the ballads that made past somber tracks like “Out Of
Mind” and “The Lady Wore Black” so captivating. This is also where the vocals
would start to get a little grating though it seems to have more to do with the
patterns and inflection than trying to hit notes that just can’t be hit
anymore.
And in a way similar to St.
Anger, there are some moments where things feel a little unfinished. But
while that album spent too much time beating stale ideas into the ground, Tribe has songs that seem like they
should’ve gone in a different direction than what was released. “Desert Dance”
could’ve been a highlight if it had spent more time on its darker beginning and
the title track would’ve been even stronger if the flow of the vocals wasn’t so
awkward during the verses. The ballads also have a tendency to run together
though a few of them do show signs of promise.
Overall, Tribe is
a decent album though it somehow seems to be even weaker than the last couple
despite DeGarmo’s contributions. The reflective tone is nicely delivered and
fitting for a band of Queensryche’s experience and “Open” is easily their
strongest latter day diamond, but his involvement is more of a point of hype and
what could’ve been than anything that truly salvages the album’s more monotonous
moments. Stick with Hear In The Now
Frontier if you want to hear the band play grunge. That album needs more
love anyway…
Current Highlights:
“Open”
“Great Divide”
“Rhythm Of Hope”
“Tribe”
“Blood”
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