Sweet Oblivion feat Geoff Tate

Relentless FRONTIERS MUSIC All ’Rÿche now.

It’s quite a commercially nifty idea, giving Geoff Tate a vehicle that harks back to Queensrÿche’s early career. And with the fans’ hunger for the classic sound at least partially sated by 2019’s first album, Relentless continues the delivery of songs that could have bridged the gap between the Queensrÿche pair Empire and Promised Land. This time round, virtuoso guitarist/ producer Aldo Lonobile is Tate’s songwriting collaborator. Not that this makes a huge difference to the direction. Lonobile and a completely new line-up are perfectly adept at conjuring up the required vibe, and Relentless hits the spot time and time again with Remember Me, Anybody Out There, Wake Up

Call and excellent single Strong Pressure. Lonobile even conjures up a ’Rÿche-style tune in Aria with Tate singing in Italian.

Strong songs, and Geoff Tate at the front giving the fans what they want? A (guilty?) pleasure indeed. ■■■■■■■■■■