Review Summary: Length aside, Queensryche brings in yet another solid late era entry with Digital Noise Alliance
Queensryche’s sixteenth album sees more member turnover taking place as live drummer Casey Grillo makes his first proper appearance on record, solidifying original member Scott Rockenfield’s absence, and guitarist Mike Stone returns to the fold in place of Parker Lungren. However, the group stays the course with Digital Noise Alliance, offering much of the same flavor as the other albums released in the near decade since their 2013 comeback. The established hard rock-tinged prog metal is out in full force and vocalist Todd La Torre continues to lead the charge amidst tight rhythms and swelling textures.
But with an hour runtime at hand, the longest since 2009’s American Soldier, the album feels overstuffed compared to the last couple outings’ more compact approaches. There aren’t any bad songs but much like Hear in the Now Frontier, it’s easy for some tracks to get lost in the shuffle. Closing the album out on a cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” was a particularly bizarre decision; it’s a decent enough exercise that allows for a different approach though to the point of being comically out of place, especially when “Tormentum” could’ve been another solid long closer ala “Condition Human.” Not terrible but lacking the purpose of something like “Gonna Get Close to You.”
On the bright side, having so many tracks to work with allows the album to contribute a fair share of strong numbers. “In Extremis” is a strong opener with a soaring chorus and a driving pace that gets an even more dramatic flair on “Behind the Walls” while “Out of the Black” and “Realms” serve up uplifting hard rock hooks. “Forest” is another track in the “Silent Lucidity” mold with those Floydian atmospherics and a pleasant refrain while “Hold On” matches its proggy musing verses with another inspiring chorus. There’s certainly déj* vu at work but it’s also a reflection of the band knowing full well what they’re best at doing.
Length aside, Queensryche brings in yet another solid late era entry with Digital Noise Alliance. The band’s commitment to sonic stability in the face of personnel shifts is certainly commendable, especially with memories of those late 2000s ventures still lingering, but it also sees them right on the line between solid and safe. There are enough great songs to keep diehards happy, but concerns of potential stagnancy may be tricky for it to stand out amidst their larger body of work. It’s a satisfying listen and might’ve even been the best comeback-era record had it been ten-fifteen minutes shorter, but I still find myself more curious as to whether La Torre has another solo album left in him.
