| Promised Land was the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Queensrÿche and their highest charting record to date. It was released by EMI on 18 October 1994, 4 years after their successful Empire album.
Music
Although not a concept album, the songs are tied together firmly by the theme of success and how to deal with it, and reflections on American society and how that shapes our goals in life.
The album opens with a piece of musique concrete, "9.28 a.m.", put together by drummer Scott Rockenfield, which by the sound of a crying baby floats into "I Am I". This is a typical Queensryche song driven by a heavy riff and Tate's landmark vocals to a background of percussion instruments. Chris DeGarmo performs cello and sitar parts on this song as well as the guitar solo. After almost four minutes it merges into "Damaged", a more straightforward heavy rocker.
"Out of Mind" and the subsequent "Bridge" are more quiet acoustic pieces, both of whose lyrics were written by Chris DeGarmo. The last one deals with the relationship with his father, who died during the Promised Land sessions.
The eight-minute title track is the first track in the Queensryche catalogue to be credited to the entire group. It is a rather dark piece, full of Rockenfield tape effects, DeGarmo/Wilton twin guitar work and it marks Tate's first appearance as a saxophonist. On this track the theme of the album is most present, as it deals with the drawbacks of success. It ends in a bar scene of people talking and drinking (slightly reminiscent of the ending of "Welcome to the Machine" on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, which deals with a similar subject matter). These sound effects merge into "Disconnected," a rather alienating piece dealing with the American consumerist society. It features Tate on sax again.
The subsequent "Lady Jane" deals with the similar theme of the influence of commercials. It is a heavy ballad featuring DeGarmo on piano and another twin solo.
"My Global Mind" is another more straightforward rock song dealing with globalisation. After that, "One More Time" is an acoustic rocker, with lyrics much in the vein of the title track.
The albums final track, "Someone Else", features just Tate on vocals and DeGarmo on piano, and this stripped down approach makes for a highly emotional closure to this very introspective album.
Track listing
"9:28 a.m." (Scott Rockenfield) – 1:43
"I Am I" (Chris DeGarmo, Geoff Tate) – 3:56
"Damaged" (DeGarmo, Tate) – 3:55
"Out of Mind" (DeGarmo) – 4:34
"Bridge" (DeGarmo) – 3:27
"Promised Land" (DeGarmo, Eddie Jackson, Rockenfield, Tate, Michael Wilton) – 8:25
"Disconnected" (Rockenfield, Tate) – 4:48
"Lady Jane" (DeGarmo) – 4:23
"My Global Mind" (DeGarmo, Rockenfield, Tate, Wilton) – 4:20
"One More Time" (DeGarmo, Tate) – 4:17
"Someone Else?" (DeGarmo, Tate) – 4:38
2003 CD reissue bonus tracks
The album was re-released on June 10, 2003 with the following bonus tracks:
"Real World" - 4:23
"Someone Else?" - 7:13
"Damaged" - 4:00
"Real World" - 3:45
Personnel
Geoff Tate – vocals, saxophone, keyboards
Chris DeGarmo – guitar, piano, cello, sitar
Michael Wilton – guitar
Eddie Jackson – bass guitar
Scott Rockenfield – drums, percussion, tape effects
Album credits
Produced by Queensrÿche and James Barton
Assisted by Phil Brown
Recorded at home, in the Dungeon, at Triad and at Big Log Studio from summer of 1992 through spring of 1994
Recorded by James Barton, Tom Hall and Queensrÿche
Additional recording at Music Grinder, assisted by Eric Fischer
Digital editing by Don Tyler
Mixed by James Barton and Queensrÿche at Bad Animals, Seattle, Washington
Assisted by Matt Gruber
Mastered by Steve Marcussen at Precision Lacquer, Hollywood, California
Chart positions
Album
Year Chart Position
1994 The Billboard 200 3
1994 Germany 10
Singles
Billboard (North America)
Year Single Chart Position
1994 "I Am I" Mainstream Rock Tracks 8
1994 "Bridge" Mainstream Rock Tracks 6
1995 "Disconnected" Mainstream Rock Tracks 32
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