Queensrÿche released the 1988 concept album Operation: Mindcrime.
Operation: Mindcrime is the third studio album by the American progressive-metal band Queensrÿche. It tells a continuous story about Nikki, a recovering drug addict who becomes involved in a revolutionary plot against a corrupt government.
The album uses recurring characters and spoken passages to connect its songs. Sister Mary, a former prostitute who becomes a nun, is central to the narrative, while Dr. X manipulates the protagonist through the story.
Operation: Mindcrime is often confused with Operation: Mindcrime II, the 2006 sequel. The original album was released in 1988 and is especially noted for blending progressive arrangements with a theatrical, politically charged storyline.