Promised Land was the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Queensrÿche and their highest charting record to date. It was released by EMI on 18 October 1994, 4 years after their successful Empire album. Music Although not a concept album, the songs are tied together firmly by the theme of success and how to deal with it, and reflections on American society and how that shapes our goals in life. The album opens with a piece of musique concrete, "9.28 a.m.", put together by drummer Scott Rockenfield, which by the sound of a crying baby floats into "I Am I". This is a typical Queensryche song driven by a heavy riff and Tate's landmark vocals to a background of percussion instruments. Chris DeGarmo performs cello and sitar parts on this song as well as the guitar solo. After almost four minutes it merges into "Damaged", a more straightforward heavy rocker. "Out of Mind" and the subsequent "Bridge" are more quiet acoustic pieces, both of whose lyrics were written by Chris DeGarmo. The last one deals with the relationship with his father, who died during the Promised Land sessions. The eight-minute title track is the first track in the Queensryche catalogue to be credited to the entire group. It is a rather dark piece, full of Rockenfield tape effects, DeGarmo/Wilton twin guitar work and it marks Tate's first appearance as a saxophonist. On this track the theme of the album is most present, as it deals with the drawbacks of success. It ends in a bar scene of people ta