Prog-rock outfit Queensryche [ tickets ] plans to spend early 2005 putting the finishing touches on its follow-up 1988's "Operation Mindcrime," but not before previewing some of the new material during a round of winter concerts.

Billed as "An Evening with Queesryche," the shows will be split into two halves. The set list for act one features hits culled from throughout the group's career, while act two will find the band performing "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety for the first time since the early '90s.

The "Operation:Mindcrime" production will include live actors who will portray the album's various characters, and will also include new and expanded video footage not used when the band last performed "Operation:Mindcrime" during its 1990-91 tour, according to a press release.

"The band is so excited to be performing 'Operation:Mindcrime' in its entirety again after not having done this in [almost] 15 years," frontman Geoff Tate said in a statement. "We are presenting it in a whole new way that finally does justice the intricacies of the story and the personalities of the characters."

During the show's finale, fans will get a taste of new material due to appear on next year's "Operation:Mindcrime II."

Queensryche plans to return to the recording studio following the tour's mid-February conclusion, and hopes to have "Mindcrime II" in stores by next fall.