Maximum Metal Rating Legend

I could sit here for days and talk about Geoff Tate's opposition to heavy metal and hard rock. We've all been there, done that and have the t-shirts. Instead let's focus on the music. This second album from Operation: Mindcrime is the second in a three part conceptual trilogy and once again shows the band in full progressive garb. The first four tracks of the album are instrumental clocking in at a minute on average. The album's real start is cut five, "Left for Dead". This and "Taking on the World" are really the only tracks that have any heavy distortion. "Heaviness" is used loosely but they do have some backbone. Beyond that the rest of the record fuses keyboards, light jazz (saxophone on "Healing my Wounds") and some sampling with a soft rock approach. It is probably even too light for Frontiers Records, who are known to prioritize AOR. Overall, this might come across stronger in a live setting.