I love The Warning. It's a great album without a weak track on it. My faves though are Warning,Deliverance,Take Hold Of The Flame and Roads To Madness (practically 2 songs in 1). I wish I had seen them with KISS during this period but by the time KISS came to Pittsburgh, W.A.S.P. was the opener (actually,that's not a bad trade off,I think).

Awesome album! It's my favorite Queensryche full length album actually. I think the production is a little flat, and there no Queen of the Reich, but oh well. It's still a classic album, and it inspired tons and tons of US metal bands. Just look at all the Tate clones out there.

I was late to the Reich, but The Warning is a fantastic full-length! Still fairly straight-ahead power metal, but with just a touch of the emerging prog about it. Possibly my favourite of the first three releases, and one I can happily spin at any time and be fully satisfied.

"The Warning" is easily my favorite by them. If you look at the heavy metal family tree, this album basically started another branch that the likes of Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Shadow Gallery and others would continue to carry on. I love the flow of this album from start to finish.

"Warning...warning...warning...warning..."

As previously mentioned, this was the first Queensryche album I ever bought (after grubbing a dub of the EP from a friend). If memory serves I purchased it with $$ I'd gotten for my 15th birthday from my grandparents. My other big birthday gift that year was a Sony Walkman (my first) and so that walkman and that WARNING tape got to know each other very well over the following summer, haha. I listened to it obsessively.

To this day, "NM 156" is my all time favorite QR track. I couldn't even tell you why, exactly. It just rules. When I saw QR live for the first time (on the PROMISED LAND tour) they busted that one out and I damn near blew a blood vessel. Since I was seated fairly close to the stage (in the 3rd row center), Tate could see me going bonkers, he pointed at me and winked!

When I was in high school I wrote a really godawful science fiction short story for a creative writing class based on "NM 156," or I should say, based on what I thought "NM 156" was about at the time. It was some silly piece of crap about cyborgs that borrowed liberally from "RoboCop" and "The Terminator" and I started each "chapter" with a quote from the song. Haha. I found that story in a pile of old papers when I was moving back in the late 90s, glanced thru it quickly, and went "Man, this is terrible! What the hell was I thinking?"

"Take Hold of the Flame" is another obvious highlight, whenever I hear the song I immediately think of the video for it from the Japan VHS, with the little Japanese guy in the crowd, standing up and waving these gauntlets with HUGE spikes on them, blissfully headbanging. After hearing them do "NM 156" live, I know how that guy feels.

I'm gonna have to put this CD into tomorrow's rotation... it's been awhile.

Man, I really gotta re-visit these older albums. I'm definately not hearing whatever it is you guys are going on about.

Queensryche - Rage For Order
Released June 27, 1986

Track listing

"Walk in the Shadows" – 3:34
"I Dream in Infrared" – 4:18
"The Whisper" – 3:36
"Gonna Get Close to You" – 4:37
"The Killing Words" – 3:56
"Surgical Strike" – 3:23
"Neue Regel" – 4:55
"Chemical Youth (We Are Rebellion)" – 4:15
"London" – 5:06
"Screaming in Digital" – 3:37
"I Will Remember" - 4:25

After the tour for The Warning, Queensryche headed back to the studio to record their second full length studio album. This time they recorded near home and chose producer Neil Kernon to produce the album. At the time, he was best known as the producer of Hall & Oats early 80's output. He had also produced Kansas' Drastic Measures.

With a new producer, he seemed to understand that Queensryche had no intention of releasing the same album over and over. The band wanted to make sure that what they released was uniquely Queensryche.

The album sounded like Queensryche, but had a more polished sound to the recordings. Keyboards, played by Geoff Tate, where also more in the forefront on this release.

A cover of "Gonna Get Close To You" a song by Dalbello (AKA Lisa Dalbello) was included and was the first video release and the first song heard by many Queensryche fans. More on this track later in the review.......

The sound on the album was excellent! The drums had a big sound, guitars where clear and had an excellent mix.

The album continued the trend of Queenryche's albums having a concept - this one about Chaos seeming searching for direction. The album has an rebellious, semi-angry (in 1986 standards), futuristic computer age attitude.

Musically, the band continued to grow and their ability continued to get better. Scott Rockenfield continued his evolution as one of the best drummers in Metal/Rock,. While the songs continued to be semi-progressive in nature, no extra long tracks where included on this album.

When I heard Queensryche was releasing a new album, I was eagerly anticipating the release and counting that days until the album was released. Then.... I saw the video...... Queensryche looking glammed out, a song that was NOT metal at all, yet some sort of pop drivel....... I thought Queensryche had lost it and gone pop....... Everyone one else I knew was EXTREMELY unhappy with the track. We all thought the Ryche had abandon Metal.....

For me, my next stop was the local Kemp Mill Records. Anyone form the DC area remember Kemp Mill Records? And their old commercial "Kemp Mill Records Breaks It Own Record with low prices"? As I went up to check out the latest Metal albums with no intention of picking up "Rage For Order". At one I shopped at in Vienna, VA one of the employees was a big time metal fan. He told me the rest of the album didn't sound like the video. He had never steered me wrong on recommending albums or new band before, so I bought it. As soon as "Walk In The Shadows" kicked in, I knew Queensryche hadn't lost their way!

The entire album minus the single was just AWESOME. I began to tell my friends about how the rest of the album was great!!!!! A

It's a hard for me to pick a favorite track as the whole album (minus GGCTY is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Other notes - this is the first release to feature the famous Queensryche symbol. To support the album, the band hit the road opening for Ratt's Dancing Undercover tour.

The Warning was incredible and showed that the 'ryche wasn't going to be a flash in the pan. But for me, Rage For Order was the one that moved them to the status of Giants. And man, that voice is phenomenal at this point what with songs like London and Gonna Get Close to You sounding like the band is supporting the vocals. Not that the band isn't tight.

I bought The Warning when it first came out and it was on regular rotation...though several of my friends were disappointed with it compared to the first EP. There is a definite maturity to the sound and Queensryche definitely sound like nobody but themselves here.

However, like most of their material, it just hasn't held up for me over the years. Not the bands fault, I've just moved in very different directions and this stuff no longer excites me.

NM156 is the best track they ever recorded.

...

Rage For Order - Got this album when it first came out and HATED it. Wasn't until after Mindcrime that I went back and some of the material made an impact. The production of that record is just so godawful slick it makes my skin crawl.

Another album I tried to revisit about a year ago and it just didn't click.

Wow, we seem to be flying through this discography pretty fast.

I own all three discussed so far on vinyl and bought them as close to their release dates as I could being the young headbanger I was. What blew me away with each Queensryche release was how they built upon the last one and used it just as a blueprint for the one they were working on. The progress they showed in a few short releases was staggering.

I got to see Queensryche for the first time live a few months after Rage... came out opening for AC/DC on their Who Made Who tour. They had a full stage set up (a rarity for an opening act) and played for close to an hour. Remember them opening with Neue Regel as I was transfixed on Rockenfields drum set covered in chains and how he hammered them on that song. I was also surprised how well the audience took to them as AC/DC fans are usually at the show for AC/DC and that's it.

Btw, I actually like Gonna Get Close To You.

RAGE FOR ORDER... it took me forever to actually get into that album, and the blame can be placed on that damn video for "Gonna Get Close To You." When I first saw that video on MTV I was like "Um... hey Beavis, what the hell is this crap?"

So anyway, it took YEARS before I finally gave that album a shot. I think the first time I heard it in its entirety was the early 90s, when I picked up a used CD copy. Of course, on the first spin I was like "(Slaps forehead) D'OH! Why didn't I buy this years ago?" Fave tracks: "Surgical Strike," "Chemical Youth," "Walk in the Shadows" and "Screaming in Digital" (which is supposedly a sequel to "NM 156")

The fashions they're sportin' on the album photos are still howl-arious to this day. Did they actually rock those clothes/hairstyles on stage when they took this album out on the road??

Interesting side note about the album art: I'm not sure how many of these are out there, but early pressings of the vinyl, tape and CD use this "blue & gold" color scheme for the front cover logo, rather than the more familiar black & gold. I'm told CD copies with this cover are particularly rare.

My LP copy had that early color scheme. It was a fantastic looking album.

I have the same story for Rage For Order as most here. When it was new, I hated it! A friend of my olderst brother had this huge metal collection, and my brother used to dub mixed tapes from his stack. The Warning was one of the first full albums he taped. The came Rage For Order when it was new, and I despiced it! So I largely ignored it for years, and didn't fully revisit it until I heard the Unplugged version of "I Will Remember" on a VHS bootleg of the MTV Unplugged set. (I wish they'd release this on DVD!)

Revisiting it so many years later really opened this album up to me. Now I love it! Sure, it is a leap in a new direction for the band, but the gap isn't as big as I initially thought. And when the songs are as strong as they are on RFO, it still makes one helluva masterpiece album!

Myself and a buddy had each purchased the EP (which had so much energy and balls it blew me away.)

The Warning didn't have the same energy to me and it didn't feel quite as intense.... I thought some of the songs were good and such, but it left me wanting...

Yet when I heard Rage I was just going.... WHAT HAPPENED...???? No balls to the walls Queen of the Ryche type stuff.... Just more overly produced commercial in feel metal.... I was what 16 or so when this came out and I bought it.... Blech... I just felt that they lost their edge and the keyboard elements just felt techno to me... more blech....

I know I'm in the minority and I'll get shreded for this, but I just know back then my thought was.... Iron Maiden/Metallica/Anthrax/Armored Saint yeah !! and Ryche? what happened....

The scene to me was getting heavier but they weren't.... Which is fine to look back in retrospect.... but back then....

Both The Warning and Rage are albums I need to revisit... but if you don't agree with me don't get your panties in a wad.... it might hurt you.....

I liked the album almost immediately and IMO it still holds up very well, image wise I do not know who's idea it was turn this band into heavy metal's answer to Prince and the Revolution. While I like the song ' I'M Gonna Get Close to You" maybe it was the wrong song to release as a single but listening to this album as I type this I have no idea what song would have made a perfect single because the entire album is so uncommerical and goes against everything that was going on in the metal scene.

Geoff Tate's voice is spectacular and his range is incredible, also the band built on what they created on their last album and took it to next level and step.

One of my fav albums and still one of the best metal albums of the 80's and a huge influence on the prog metal bands.

THE WARNING - Somehow lost track of this band and missed this when it first came out. I bought it on cassette in the mid 90's and loved it NM156 is a way cool tune and the album is killer as well.

RAGE FOR ORDER - THIS IS MY FAVORITE QUEENSRYCHE ALBUM! The mood on this album is incredible... I like the weirdness of it and I've always liked "Gonna..."(I just do not know how to explain that song... Industrial Goth Prog Metal?). I guess Goth Prog Metal would be the only way to describe this album... Did I mention that it is my fav?

I saw that same tour with AC/DC at The Cow Palace.... awesome show!!!! I bought RFO sometime after this.

Their new look kinda threw me for a loop at first as I was NOT into glam in the mid to late 80's and they really glammed out on the back of the album. Thankfully, the music was anything but. I have to admit, I was never a big fan of "Gonna Get Close To You" but the rest of the album was right on pace where "The Warning" left off.

Queensryche was breaking new ground on this album, going places no band had attempted to go before. Lots of emotion, just enough synth to make it unique while not oversaturating it. Some parts of this album still give me goosebumps to this day when I hear it.

HA! Just like evrybody else I saw the video for Gonna Get Close To You and couldn't believe my eyes and ears. I thought it was godawful so I avoided Rage For Order for years;in fact it was the last release of their early material that I bought. I had a friend or two assure me that the rest wasn't that bad so I eventually caved and bought a used copy.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.The rest of the tracks are really good and I've somehow warmed up to Gonna Get Close To You as well. I listen to this regularly (and it's much better than what will eventually come).

Some of you guys are crazy. Gonna Get Close To You is a really great song. Its a little but after listening to it over and over again it grows on you. There isn't any bad songs on this release either. I love this album and actually just listened to it at work the other day. I love it just as much as I did when I first bought it. I have the original version of this and also the remaster which has some bonus tracks. I like the accoustic version of I Always See In Infrared, great song!

MG you really need to give these album another listen, especially RAGE FOR ORDER. Your really missing out.

It's a good album, but it's nowhere near the greatness of the EP and The Warning. But Walk in the Shadows is one of my favorite Queensryche songs.

The Warning! A wonderful piece of dark, metallic songwriting that really starts to showcase the band's focus on futurist, dystopian themes, which would dominate the follow-up even more. Some people hear riffs - I hear a mindset and passion. Queensrÿche starts their patented brand of heavy metal and not an ounce of kitsch to be found.

'Rage For Order' is one of the most important albums in my life.

When I heard this album, I was a metal fan, but didn't have a lot of ideas about how metal absolutely should be except I hated all of the "thebandthatshallneverbementionedagain" stuff (this was the era in which I was introduced to it). 'Rage For Order' takes all the social unrest, technological paranoia, and nocturnal romance of the first half of the 1980's and channels it together in such a way as to rival 'Blade Runner'. Those who do not understand this fact, or cannot connect with that feeling or atmosphere, *WILL NOT* enjoy this album, period, end of story. Which is fine, but it simply needs to be known. The point of this can be missed. As for myself, this album has always came at the perfect time. I always enjoyed electronic elements in music. I've always been obsessed with the duality and rivalry of man/machine. I've always struggled with different stages of what many a puppet would call 'depression'. I understand a song like 'London'. I get what is coming across in 'Neue Regal'. I understand the future and the circumstances Tate saw and felt. Queensrÿche was one of the most important bands for the sheer fact that they needed to be there to help remind people of what metal can be, what metal can say. That the music is most powerful when every beat is a revolution, giving you a choice to bang your head with as much or as little purpose as you like. Gone is the fleeting angst of punk, gone is the lack of depth of hard rock. With the new sound, you can enjoy the music on a simple level just as much as anything else, but if you have a heart and soul, there will still be so much more meaning, and you'll never forget why you enjoyed it on the first level because of that. Would every album that put as much thought into it need to end up as dark as 'Rage For Order'? Of course not. This band paved the way already, and the sky is the limit for PURE EXPRESSION, and PURPOSE, in heavy metal. If metalheads need to be told it's OK to feel or to branch out, here's the clearest line in the sand since '2112'. In the midst of this, they manage to baffle critics by incorporating sounds and feelings which are clearly identifiable as gothic.. - cyberpunk is the word, really - into the dramatic howling and dual-guitar maelstrom of the existing style.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

I enjoyed reading your take on the album OCI and next time I listen to it, I will listening to the album from a different viewpoint.