Operation: Mindcrime is a dystopian concept album smothered in Cold War paranoia and revolutionary politics; the complex storyline—starring Nikki, a drug addict-turned-unwilling assassin, and Dr. X, a diabolical preacher—clicks largely because Queensrÿche’s songwriting is so smart. “The Mission” is a commanding slice of pop metal with acoustic guitars, soaring vocal harmonies, and a brooding, proggy edge, and "I Don't Believe in Love" is a ringing power ballad; "Eyes of a Stranger," a chilling portrayal of Nikki's anguish, shows off Geoff Tate's voice at its most compellingly operatic.