Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Needle Lies by Queensryche

Today's Metal Track is The Needle Lies by Queensryche. This is another one off of their fantastic 1988 concept album Operation: Mindcrime. Remember that Dr. X has manipulated Nikki through drug addiction and brainwashing to carry out assassinations at his command.

In this song, Nikki is telling Dr. X he wants out while Dr. X temps him with heroin, telling him he will never be able to escape. Nikki narrates his internal struggles with resisting the temptation. He even takes a blade and carves the phrase "Don't ever trust the needle, it lies" into his arm as a reminder of how harmful it is.

Wet and raving
The needle keeps calling me back
To bloody my hands forever
Carved my cure with the blade
That left me in scars
Now every time I'm weak
Words scream from my arm

Don't ever trust
Don't ever trust the needle, it lies