Stuck in the past for better or worse - A review of Queensrÿche's Condition Hüman

Two years after the average self-titled effort that started the new era of progressive metal veterans Queensrÿche on a lukewarm note, Condition Hüman is the second album to feature new singer Todd La Torre and offers some more value for money. The record comes around with twelve new tracks with a running time of fifty-three minutes and some versions even include a bonus track. No uninspired instrumental or other unnecessary material can be found on this ouput.

The record convinces with great guitar play that finds the right mixture between melodic riffs and technical progressive vibes. The production is organic, rich and warm. The playful, melodic and catchy ''Guardian'', the atmospheric, epic and playful ''Hellfire'', the more modern and sinister ''Selfish Lives'', the inspired and variable ''Hourglass'' and epic closing title track ''Condition Hüman'' are all very decent.

However, the record also includes a few fillers that won't grow even after multiple spins. The songwriting also includes some self-plagiarism with melodies and even lyrics recalling the band's greatest era from the eighties. An obvious example is the fact that the classic ''Revolution Calling'' has now become ''Evolution Calling'' in the song ''Guardian''. The feeling that one has heard several ideas before is enhanced by the fact that Todd La Torre continues to sound like a younger copy of Geoff Tate and fails to add his very own note to the band.

At the end of the day, Condition Hüman is a decent melodic progressive metal album that marks a step in the right direction for a band that has been struggling for two decades. However, the group doesn't unfold its entire potential because its sound and songwriting try too much to go back to the roots instead of exploring new possibilities. That's why this album sounds somewhat old-fashioned at times. The bottom line is that unconditional fans of the band should appreciate Condition Hüman while occasional fans might find it too average to leave its own mark.

Final rating: 70%