Hear in the Now Frontier (1997)

The tastiest moments on Hear in the Now Frontier — the most down-to-earth music pretension-metal stalwarts Queensryche have managed — recall '60s British rockers like the Who and Moody Blues who took stabs at psychedelia. Flitty harmonies prevent the chunky riffs from sustaining their punch, but the arrangements rarely feel overblown: At least Geoff Tate doesn't holler like he's auditioning for operas anymore.