*A review of Rising Force by Yngwie J. Malmsteen, which was intended as a quick review but I was forced to post as standard?*
'Rising Force', is seen as being responsible for the rise of Neo-Classical Metal; in Yngwie J. Malmsteen's debut solo album, he shows super speed and skill in his guitar playing, and with the distinctive Strat tone comes his wide violin-like vibrato. But it’s not entirely electric – the album is enriched by acoustic guitars which ‘Rising Force’ begins and ends on.
Edited highlights: 1. Black Star – the opener is my favourite track off the album, I love the neighing guitar licks which kick in after the acoustic-into-electric buildup.
2. Far Beyond The Sun - the guitar and keyboard solo interchanges.
5. Icarus' Dream Suite Op. 4 - the medievil acoustic figure for the final section.
6. As Above, So Below - forgetting the final song, 'Farewell', this is the simplest song structure-wise, and most accessible.
7. Little Savage - the guitar solo for when the song goes into half-time feel, and the outro section with the double-time feel.
Jeff Scott Soto gives a fine vocal performance on both 'Now Your Ships Are Burned' and 'As Above, So Below', though the latter has below average lyrics, whilst Barriemore Barlow's drumming is undermined by Barlow, I mean, below average album production values. A good album, although a guitar instrumental was never really hold to hold my attention, despite the guitar once being a favourite instrument of mine.
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Sep 2nd, 2009
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