The crime of Operation Mindcrime 2

I think there are few Queensryche fans who post here so there may be some good varying views on this topic. I think Queensryche are overall a good band, but not great. I first heard them when the Warning came out in 1984 and heard Operation Mindcrime right when it came out in 1988. I liked the music and thought the story was okay. The topic here is the second part of this story which is due out April 4th so it will be over 18 years since the first part. I know that I cannot judge the album yet because it is not out, but I have a problem with Queensryche doing this album. It's just that doing a sequel to a concept album that's almost 20 years after the original makes them appear desperate. Operation Mindcrime was one their two most popular albums and doing this sequel makes it sound like they don't have any good original ideas so they are going to cash in on a concept that worked for them before. It also bothers me because no matter what you thought of the finished product of Operation Mindcrime, I think you would have to say that it was a genuine attempt rather than a cash-in. I mean it's not like heavy metal concept albums were all the rage. These guys have been seen as a progressive metal band and in the past they have at least tried to act like they are always writing to move ahead in a different direction. Yet where's the progress in doing a sequel album at this point in your career? I don't mean to pick on Queensryche either because in recent years King Diamond did Abigail 2 and WASP's two part Neon God is really just a rehash of their Crimson Idol album. I know the music is what matters and maybe OM2 will come out and be outstanding, but my guess is they will try to gear the style to be very much like the first one and the result will be a watered down imitation of an 18 year old album. Just like with films, the only thing worse than a bad sequel is a bad remake and that is what I fear this album may turn out to be. Am I being to hard on these guys or not?

I don't mean to harp on these guys, but this does bother me. However in honor of the release of Operation Mindcrime 2, my 20 year old album review in April will be Rage for order. An album that seems to be nobody's favorite Queensryche album, but we'll see if maybe time has been kinder than we thought to this album.