December Showcase - Yngwie Malmsteen

1.] PERPETUAL [4.12] This is a great instrumental that does a superb job of setting the scene and giving the listener a feel for things to come. Opening with a classical riff before breaking into volume swells gives a very confident impression, Yngwie has clearly put a lot of thought into this. The next passage is reminiscent of 'Black Star' with a harmony part that is oh so melodic. Yngwie is pretty restraint through this track giving the listener a chance to devour every one of those beautiful Stratocaster notes. There are a few great solo's and what you are left with is a great instrumental.
2.] DRAGONFLY [4.48] A great groover, with a very Hendrix-y wah sound. I love this kind of bluesy thing that Yngwie does so well. The lyrics are also very Hendrix-esque and tell of learning from life and Goran sounds excellent 'Through my window from the sky, Flows a lullaby, Someone's waiting in my dream, Taking me to places I've never seen'. The verse riff is a nice complement to the vocal melody line leaving space for the bass and drums to breathe creating a big open sound. The solo is quite a surprise as I was expecting a bluesy affair like that on 'Bedroom Eyes' but what is actually here is again very melodic and sounds very natural. There is also a great outro solo where Yng's guitar falls and climbs creating almost architectural type lines.
3.] TEASER [3.27] The most commercial song on the album and is not at all bad, the huge 'sampled' chant of 'Teaser' is a bit common but the verse has a nice flow to it and raises the notch for this sort of track, the lyrics are quite typical but Goran makes them sounds more convincing than most 'Teaser, You set my heart on fire, Teaser, Put out the flames of my desire'. There is a great bridge and build up to the solo which also breakdowns nicely at the end. Probably the weakest track on the album but still a solid enough track.
4.] HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON [6.09] The title alone conjures images of what this track could possibly be like, and you are not going to be disappointed. This is indeed the 'epic' of the album and pretty phenomenal it is too! Opening with a very classical theme over which Yngwie plays a beautiful melody in synch with violins before launching into a European sounding riff. The tempo is quite slow giving Goran's lyrics a chance to shine bright 'Eternal sand, There is no end to this no mans land, We all must all pay, For the piper we dance while he plays'. The song takes you on a journey and this is a credit to the strength of the track. The solo opens with another classical motif before going into one of my favourite Malmsteen solo's. Mats keyboard work is also particularly noteworthy, Yngwie's sister Lolo Lannerback also plays flute on this track.
5.] CRY NO MORE [5.15] Opening with another very melodic solo before launching into the main riff, which is quite similar to that in the Ozzy track 'Believer'. Yngwie's use of the wah on this riff is reminiscent of the way Michael Schenker uses it as a tonal device. Again Goran vocals are superb and do the lyrics great justice 'There's a time for games and visions, And the stake is more or less, There's a time for fast decisions, When our dreams become success'. The chorus is very majestic 'We do anything to raise the score, Cause the end will always justify the means, And we Cry No More'. The bridge is very strong and Goran's voice is pure gold. There is a very classical sounding middle section that again features a string orchestra. Yet again a very strong song.
6.] NO MERCY [5.29] A very fast double bass drum stomper, the riff is similar to some up-tempo Ritchie Blackmore tracks. The lyrics tell of a relationship where the other half always thinks their right but they get their comeuppance in the end - 'You say you're always right and I'm wrong, You tell me I am weak and you are strong, Always tried so hard, Now you've gone to far, I'll give all or nothing now to play my cards'. There is a great pre-solo section where Yngwie and the orchestra blaze through J.S.Bach's 'Badinerie in B Minor' before Yngwie shreds a very fast and intense solo, very powerful. A great fast track.
7.] C'EST LA VIE [5.15] This is the first track by Yngwie ever to feature his superb sitar skills. The keyboards fade up before a simple riff that translates into another monster groove. Again the track has an almost mystical quality to it. The lyrics tell of the way we are damaging the world with pollution and how if we don't make amends soon it will be too late - 'Give us back the blue blue sky, Where the air is so fresh where eagles fly, What good is a planet that's slowly dying, What kind of life can it bring'. The pre-chorus again sounds very majestic and Goran shines again 'We pray but the wall is too high, We pay with our lives to the dark tower in the sky'. This track doesn't really sound like anything the Maestro has done before and standouts because of this. The solo is again very strong seeing use of nylon string guitars, blazing runs and those always perfect liquid arpeggio's.
8.] LEVIATHAN [4.20] Yet another killer Malmsteen instrumental. This track is actually quite similar to 'Jet To Jet' off the Alcatrazz album 'No Parole For Rock N Roll', the shuffle feel however separates the two. This song has always given me the impression of it being Yngwie's version of Jeff Beck's 'Scatterbrain'. In that it goes through various moods and tempo's. The main riff on which the foundation of the song is based is superb and similar to 'Deja Vu'.
9.] FIRE & ICE [4.28] Opening with a drum fill before hitting a classical arpeggio section [which has been extended for the 'Concerto' album] which flows like a smooth river. The main riff of the track is quite melodic but powerful and is a great change. This is backed up by some excellent drumming from Bo Werner where he plays a great part on the ride cymbal while simultaneously throwing in a hi-hat groove, all this while keeping the snare and bass drum as solid as a rock - great stuff. The main riff for the verse is quite simple and is a sort of call and response thing with Goran 'Everyday is like a set up race, And the world is still a lonely race, To be or not to be is this the final quiz. A flash in the pan goodbye, Still shooting for the open sky, Between the devil and the deep blue sea, I cannot find a compromise'. The solo section opens with a repeat of the intro before Yngwie throws in a superb solo drenched in blues and emotional extreme bends, again the wah wah pedal is used to great effect. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus will Yngwie continues to burn underneath.
10.] FOREVER IS A LONG TIME [4.25] Another very fast double bass drum stomper that really moves along. This track has a vibe similar to 'See you In Hell [Don't Be Late]' off 'Eclipse' but there is a bit more aggression here. The main riff really is very fast and is very cool. Goran sings of myths and legends 'Today I read in a book that some are meant to live forever, There's also a nightmare where our dying has no end. If I let my will surrender and my flesh be crucified, In his name my sins will be sublime'. Another violin section opens the solo which is one of Yngwie most vicious, some of the very fast licks contained here are simply brutal, a great solo from Mats gives a feel of old 'Rising Force' material before Yngwie almost attacks him back after throwing his punch! A great track that Yngwie should still play live.
11.] I'M MY OWN ENEMY [6.07] The ballad of the album and it could almost be 'Save Our Love' part 2. This is so because the track is very European sounding and Goran voice is quite similar to that on the aforementioned song. The chorus is very majestic and grand. There is good use of 'orchestral' sound effects from Mats which help make the sound a touch more grandeur. The solo is great with all sorts of arpeggio's, linear lines and that superb vibrato which just screams. The acoustic guitar used on the verse helps the classical chord structure sound more authentic, before building for that great chorus again 'You cannot see this is my destiny, I'm my own enemy, You cannot see this is my reality, I'm my own enemy, In my life there was no one like you'.
12.] ALL I WANT IS EVERYTHING [4.00] Another bluesy rocker with a great groove, the lyrics in the verse are similar to those in Aerosmith's 'Sweet Emotion' before coming back for a more typical Malmsteen chorus - 'You always thought that you were so cool, You used to say that I was the fool, And all this time you were just a tool, You couldn't see that I made the rules'. The solo is very bluesy and comes off as a mix of Hendrix, Blackmore with Yngwie own golden touch thrown in. The guitar sound on this one is sharp, biting and aggressive - superb.
13.] GOLDEN DAWN [1.27] A short sweet acoustic instrumental that is like a mix of 'Memories' and 'Sorrow' with a hint of Bachs 'Ode To Joy', some nice keyboard orchestration helps the track get that royal quality.
14.] FINAL CURTAIN [4.43] A huge clap of Thunder heralds the last track and it is another mini epic. The riff is heavy with a very prominent keyboard part over the top which gives a thunderous sound. In contrast the verse is quite mellow. The lyrics are again about myths and legends, not that the title hints at this - 'What's left for me to see, In my ship I sailed so far, What can the answers be, Don't know what the questions are'. The tracks changes direction for the pre-chorus and then again for the chorus with pretty original progressions. The solo lasts for the final 2 minutes and is full of everything that comes under the Malmsteen banner, the sound on this one is extra glassy and every one of those great Strat notes is clearly audible. A majestic end to a majestic album.