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In the fall of 1991, Queensrÿche released Operation:LIVEcrime, a live video commemorating the enormously popular "Mindcrime" tour, which had translated the album concept into a theatrical performance. 10 years later, they released it in DVD format in 5.1 Dolby Digital with some interesting additional material.

I really began to dig this band when they released the conceptual "Operation: Mindcrime" album in 1988. For most of Queensrÿche fans and me as well, this album is the best that they created in their entire career. More, this album is seen as one of the best release by a metal band ever. I’ve even seen a poll with many CDs and eliminatory rounds on a metal Website some years ago and this album won the 1st rank against Iron Maiden’s "Powerslave"!

The live gig represents the studio album "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety. We can really enjoy the band perform the songs with a very, very tight precision. I especially enjoyed all the lead guitars that are played note to note.

But what is makes this tour so special was the very theatrical feeling of the gig. Singer Geoff Tate plays Nikki, the main character on stage. His performance is grandiose. Later in the show, Pamela Moore, a female singer dressed all in white, sings a dual with Geoff in the beautiful operatic "Suite Sister Mary". She sings her parts on the studio album as well. She plays the role of Mary, a nun. Every time I see and hear this part of the show, I get shivers all over my skin. For me, this is the highlight of the gig. What a great moment.

The scene contains 2 large screens that display many sequences filmed by some actors. These shots followed the story in many parts of the gig. This help to understand and visualise the story and it’s very well made; it looks like a movie. I don’t want to describe the conceptual story of "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety, but the storyline talks about mind manipulations and the evil ones are called Dr. X, a politician and Father William. The 2 protagonists are the young Nikki and Mary; both are manipulated in different ways in their own lives.

The songs are very well composed and are pure delight to my ears. Cuts like "Revolution Calling", "Operation: Mindcrime", "Spreading The Disease", "The Mission", "Suite Sister Mary", "I Don’t Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger" are my favourite ones on "Operation: Mindcrime". I didn’t dig this album the first time I heard it. I needed several listen to really enjoy this opus because the songs have so much depth and are very detailed. This is not the kind of album that you get tired of after a few spins. I still enjoy it today after several listens.

Coming back to the DVD, it also contains some bonus material like a very interesting interview that lasts about 30 minutes separated in 3 segments with Geoff Tate. He talks about many things related to Queensrÿche and especially on this album like the creation of some characters, some riffs or ideas. The bonus section also contains some bonus fan photo gallery with some liner notes, 2 hidden bonus live audio tracks, "Roads To Madness" and "The Lady Wore Black" (see Easter eggs below for instructions on how to find them), a discography and the complete Queensrÿche "Operation: LIVEcrime story" from the original box set booklet. The subtitles are also available and show the lyrics while watching the entire gig, which is a very interesting option in my own opinion.

The camera shots are excellent, the sound is good and the music is AWESOME. Without a doubt, this DVD is a must-have for every metalhead.

Track listing:

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

Additional release material:

• New interview with lead singer Geoff Tate
• The complete Queensrÿche "Operation: LIVEcrime story" from the original box set booklet
• Bonus fan photo gallery
• Discography
• 2 hidden bonus audio tracks in 5.1 surround sound

Easter Eggs:

1. From the disc’s main menu go to the "Bonus Features". There, select the "Discography" menu entry. Once you get to the discography screen go through the albums with the arrow keys on your remote control until you highlight "The Warning". Now press the "Up" arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight the cover. Press "Enter" now and you will be treated to a 5.1 Dolby Digital live recording of the song "Roads To Madness" from the album. Although no video is shown, you will get to see the song’s lyrics on the screen.

2. Once you get back to the Discography screen, go through the albums until you see the cover for the Queensrÿche EP, entitled "Queensrÿche". Once again, press the "Up" arrow key and "Enter" and you will get to listen to a 5.1 Dolby Digital live recording of the ballad "The Lady Wore Black" from that album. Once again, no video is shown, but the lyrics will be displayed on the screen.

Additional Information

- Originally released in 1991