Todd La Torre - Rejoice In The Suffering - DOUBLE LP GATEFOLD COLOURED

First solo album by Queenryche singer Todd La Torre. The Queenryche tour, postponed by the pandemic, gave Todd La Torre the opportunity to realize the long-planned solo album.

Todd teamed up with longtime friend Craig Blackwell. As with Queensrÿche's The Verdict, La Torre played drums and vocals, Blackwell played guitar, bass and keyboards. La Torre and Blackwell produced the album themselves, but brought in Queensrÿche producer Zeuss. Guest appearances by Jordan Ziff (Age Of Evil, Metalhead, Ratt) and Al Nunn.

Overall, the solo output is versatile, without neglecting the progressive basis of Queensryche. However, the basics are more rooted in Classic Metal and are combined with various influences. . The opener "Dogmata" or "Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall" come around the corner with powerful speed and mix Heavy with Speed and Thrash Metal. "Pretender" gets a slight epic touch and La Torre vocally moves to surprising heights. It gets classic metallic with "Hellbound And Down", the strong "Vexed" and "Rejoice In The Suffering". The progressive part comes into play in "Darkened Majesty", "Apology" or "Critical Cynic". The ballad friends listen to "Crossroad To Insanity".

At the end there are mighty dark tones to discover in "One By One . Craig Blackwell's guitar playing perfectly stages the vocals of La Torre musically. Todd even finds vocals that have never been heard from him before, as can be heard on the title track and the captivating "Vanguards of the Dawn Wall".

Released in 2021 only in the US, ROAR is finally making this jewel available in Europe, in addition with 2 luxurious vinyl versions.

"Rejoice The Sufffering" is an outstanding opus from a late-appointed singer, who proves completely detached how to write, arrange and produce a massive-modern and vital Metal record For all Queensryche fans and lovers of classic metal.