YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN

Neoclassical metal / Non-Metal • Sweden
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YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN picture
Malmsteen was born on June 30, 1963, as the first child of a musically talented family in Stockholm, Sweden. At age seven, he saw a television news report on the death of Jimi Hendrix. To quote his official website, "The day Jimi Hendrix died, the guitar-playing Malmsteen was born". At the age of 10 he took his mother's maiden name Malmsten as his surname, slightly changed it to Malmsteen, and Anglicised his given name Yngve to "Yngwie". Yngwie also created his first band "Track On Earth" at the age of 10, consisting of himself and a friend from school on drums. Malmsteen was a teenager when he first encountered the music of the 19th century violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, whom he cites as his biggest classical music influence.

Through his emulation of Paganini concerto pieces on guitar, Malmsteen developed a prodigious technical fluency. Malmsteen's guitar style includes a wide, violin-like
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YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Discography

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN albums / top albums

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Rising Force album cover 4.03 | 51 ratings
Rising Force
Neoclassical metal 1984
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Marching Out album cover 3.68 | 30 ratings
Marching Out
Neoclassical metal 1985
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Trilogy album cover 3.72 | 28 ratings
Trilogy
Neoclassical metal 1986
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Odyssey album cover 3.78 | 28 ratings
Odyssey
Neoclassical metal 1988
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Eclipse album cover 3.18 | 23 ratings
Eclipse
Neoclassical metal 1990
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Fire and Ice album cover 3.19 | 22 ratings
Fire and Ice
Neoclassical metal 1992
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN The Seventh Sign album cover 3.37 | 18 ratings
The Seventh Sign
Neoclassical metal 1994
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Magnum Opus album cover 3.20 | 14 ratings
Magnum Opus
Neoclassical metal 1995
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Inspiration album cover 4.10 | 12 ratings
Inspiration
Neoclassical metal 1996
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Facing the Animal album cover 3.75 | 10 ratings
Facing the Animal
Neoclassical metal 1997
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor: Op. 1 album cover 3.97 | 12 ratings
Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor: Op. 1
Neoclassical metal 1998
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Alchemy album cover 3.72 | 12 ratings
Alchemy
Neoclassical metal 1999
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN War to End All Wars album cover 2.78 | 10 ratings
War to End All Wars
Neoclassical metal 2000
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Attack!! album cover 2.89 | 10 ratings
Attack!!
Neoclassical metal 2002
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Perpetual Flame album cover 2.09 | 8 ratings
Perpetual Flame
Neoclassical metal 2008
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Angels of Love album cover 2.80 | 5 ratings
Angels of Love
Non-Metal 2009
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Relentless album cover 2.50 | 4 ratings
Relentless
Neoclassical metal 2010
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Spellbound album cover 2.75 | 6 ratings
Spellbound
Neoclassical metal 2012
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN World on Fire album cover 4.00 | 3 ratings
World on Fire
Neoclassical metal 2016

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN EPs & splits

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Heaven Tonight album cover 2.00 | 1 ratings
Heaven Tonight
Neoclassical metal 1988
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN I Can't Wait album cover 2.75 | 2 ratings
I Can't Wait
Neoclassical metal 1994
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Power and Glory album cover 2.00 | 1 ratings
Power and Glory
Neoclassical metal 1994

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN live albums

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad album cover 3.42 | 9 ratings
Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad
Neoclassical metal 1989
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Live!! album cover 3.00 | 2 ratings
Live!!
Neoclassical metal 1998
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Double Live!! album cover 2.50 | 1 ratings
Double Live!!
Neoclassical metal 1998
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Concerto Suite For Electric Guitar And Orchestra In E Flat Minor Live With The New Japan Philharmonic album cover 3.80 | 5 ratings
Concerto Suite For Electric Guitar And Orchestra In E Flat Minor Live With The New Japan Philharmonic
Metal Related 2002

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Powerhouse album cover 3.00 | 2 ratings
Powerhouse
Neoclassical metal 1978
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Birth of the Sun album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Birth of the Sun
Neoclassical metal 1980
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN 1981 Demo album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
1981 Demo
Neoclassical metal 1981
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN 1985 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
1985
Neoclassical metal 1985
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget / The Way album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget / The Way
Neoclassical metal 1986
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Making Love album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Making Love
Neoclassical metal 1990
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Dragonfly album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Dragonfly
Neoclassical metal 1992
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Teaser album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Teaser
Neoclassical metal 1992
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Carry on Wayward Son album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Carry on Wayward Son
Neoclassical metal 1996

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN re-issues & compilations

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection album cover 3.00 | 4 ratings
The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection
Neoclassical metal 1992
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN The Best of 1990-1999 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
The Best of 1990-1999
Neoclassical metal 2000
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Anthology 1994-1999 album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Anthology 1994-1999
Neoclassical metal 2001
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Yngwie Malmsteen Archives album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Yngwie Malmsteen Archives
Neoclassical metal 2001
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN The Genesis album cover 2.50 | 1 ratings
The Genesis
Neoclassical metal 2003
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Instrumental Best Album album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Instrumental Best Album
Neoclassical metal 2004
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Yngwie Malmsteen album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Yngwie Malmsteen
Neoclassical metal 2005
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Complete Box Polydor Years album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Complete Box Polydor Years
Neoclassical metal 2006
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Far Beyond the Rising Sun album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Far Beyond the Rising Sun
Neoclassical metal 2008
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN High Impact album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
High Impact
Neoclassical metal 2009

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN singles (7)

.. Album Cover
3.50 | 1 ratings
I'll See The Light Tonight / Don't Let It End
Neoclassical metal 1985
.. Album Cover
5.00 | 1 ratings
Black Star
Neoclassical metal 1985
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Rising Force Studio / Live '85
Neoclassical metal 1985
.. Album Cover
3.25 | 2 ratings
I'm A Viking
Neoclassical metal 1985
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Fire
Neoclassical metal 1986
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget
Neoclassical metal 1986
.. Album Cover
2.50 | 2 ratings
Heaven Tonight
Neoclassical metal 1988

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

.. Album Cover
4.00 | 1 ratings
Rising Force - Live '85
Neoclassical metal 1985
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 1 ratings
Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad
Neoclassical metal 1989
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection
Neoclassical metal 1992
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Leo Fender Benefit Live
Neoclassical metal 1993
.. Album Cover
3.75 | 2 ratings
Live at Budokan
Neoclassical metal 1994
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Yngwie Malmsteen LIVE!!
Neoclassical metal 1998
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Yngwie Malmsteen Video Clips
Neoclassical metal 2000
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 2 ratings
Concerto Suite Live with Japan Philharmonic
Metal Related 2001
.. Album Cover
4.50 | 1 ratings
Far Beyond the Sun
Neoclassical metal 2006
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Live Animal
Neoclassical metal 2009
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 1 ratings
Live in Korea
Neoclassical metal 2009

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Reviews

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Attack!!

Album · 2002 · Neoclassical metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
lukretion
My reaction to Malmsteen’s post-1990s albums is almost as predictable as the formula he used to write them. Invariably, I end up concluding that the Swedish guitar wizard has done better elsewhere. Attack!! is no exception, although there are more surprises here than what I was expecting going in. This turns out to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Malmsteen seems to have tried to shake things up a bit across the 15 tracks that form this record, which is never a bad thing. On the other hand, the new directions he experimented with in some of the songs seem somewhat misguided and give the album a fragmented, disjointed feel overall.

In the album’s first-half, Yngwie seems busy attempting to revive the sound and spirit of his glorious past. Fast neoclassical guitar scales abound in the construction of riffs, leads and solos, absolutely dominating the soundscape and instantly bringing to mind the true essence of the genre. Differently from the neoclassical power metal strain that became popular in the 1990s, the spirit of songs like “Valley of Kings”, “Ship of Fools”, or the title-track, is truly rooted in the classic origins of the genre, displaying a hard rock swagger that instantly connects to the music of the 1970s (Deep Purple, Rainbow). Enlisting Doogie White on vocals was a clever move to make that connection even more credible, as the singer does a good job at infusing the polished baroque melodies with some healthy rock ‘n’ roll grit. With the guitar and voice firmly put at the heart of each song, the other musicians are vastly relegated to an inconspicuous sparring partner role, which is mad considering the talents Yngwie managed to enlist here (did he really need Derek Sherinian to play simple chords in a handful of tracks?). But this won’t surprise anyone who is familiar with Malmsteen or who has simply glanced at the endless list of musicians that have transited in his band over the years.

If the album’s first-half flows away pleasantly albeit with a general sense of deja-vu, the second-half is where things start going awry. Here Yngwie attempted to shake things up with a handful of tracks that depart from the usual neoclassical formula, but unfortunately took things in directions that are not particularly convincing. If the detour towards classical instrumental music (“Baroque & Roll”, “Air”) fits well with the album’s overall aesthetics, I cannot say the same about the AOR inflections of “Stronghold” and “Touch the Sky”, or about the straightforward but insipid rock ‘n’ roll vibes of “Mad Dog”. The major offender, however, is “Freedom Isn't Free” a fuzzy blues affair that may nod to Jimi Hendrix, but in a way that would have made the poor man roll over in his grave. The fact that Yngwie decided to sing this song himself with a performance which isn’t exactly for the history books, only adds to the woes of what must be the album’s absolutely lowest point.

The combination of inconsistent direction and lack of quality makes the album’s latter part a chore to sit through and, by the time I get to “Freedom Isn't Free”, I usually press the STOP button because I can’t seem to make myself care about the LP anymore (which is a pity since “Majestic Blue” and “Valhalla” are not bad songs, actually). The shaky sound production isn’t exactly encouraging repeat listens, either. Unsurprisingly, the guitars dominate the soundscape, but they are mixed oddly with the rhythm guitar hard-panned to the right and the bass hard-panned to the left in the stereo mix, giving an odd, disjointed feel to the overall sound. The sudden spikes in volume that occur whenever the lead guitar kicks in contribute to the same unpleasant effect. The drums are also mixed in a strange way, very loud and in your face but with a flat, lifeless sound that at times is actually annoying (the snare in “Attack!!”).

Overall, Attack!! leaves me with the general impression of a less accomplished and less inspired version of the sound Yngwie pioneered in the 1980s, with the further aggravating factor of a highly inconsistent and misguided second-half. For some, Attack!! may still be better than the two albums that immediately preceded it, but we are a long long way from anything that might resemble a reasonable return to form.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Eclipse

Album · 1990 · Neoclassical metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
SilentScream213
Yngwie begins the new decade with his most mainstream release yet. It’s a pretty smooth transition from Odyssey – the AOR and simplicity turned up a bit. It starts off pretty dull, and a good portion of the tracks are unmemorable anthems. The lyrics are quite poor, though they’ve never been great.

It’s not all bad, though – Eclipse is the first album where Yngwie uses his guitar to start layering simple yet effective melodies in almost New Age style. They play off keys and vocal harmonies, and there are some moments where all the sound comes together in really nice ways. Vocalist Göran Edman actually steals most of the songs, as for once Yngwie doesn’t do a whole lot of shredding and soloing. I won’t lie, these songs are about as uninspired and passionless as radio pop, but Göran certainly doesn’t lack ability, and he’s got a few fantastic hooks here. The album also ends with a string of really strong material, meaning it leaves a poor first impression, but a much stronger lasting one. I liked it more with each listen.

Overall – some of his worst, but also some of my favorite material from Yngwie.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Marching Out

Album · 1985 · Neoclassical metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
SilentScream213
Yngwie’s sophomore solo album is much more traditionally structured like a regular album, with almost every song featuring vocals (strong vocals at that) and the improvised noodling is kept to a minimum. Depending on your taste, that can be a plus or a minus, but for me it’s a huge plus. Yngwie works best as support – he writes fantastic riffs, and his solos are excellent in small doses, rather than dedicating entire songs to him improvising. Although far from pop songs, the vocals feature some fantastically catchy choruses, and though the songs delve into anthemic arena rock territory, Yngwie keeps it interesting by ensuring the backing riffs are as technical and engaging as ever.

Definitely an improvement over the debut in my opinion, which was impressive but occasionally boring.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Rising Force

Album · 1984 · Neoclassical metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
SilentScream213
I’ve been a big fan of what Malmsgteen has done – both Steeler and Alcatrazz had great records with him. However, I think he works much better as a lead guitarist than a solo artist. By rights this album is musically, technically impressive, incredibly so, and there are great tracks. However, it does get boring listening to Yngwie solo for 40 minutes. He writes fantastic riffs and solos, but they are much better appreciated in between choruses and verses, rather than back to back.

The impact of this album is just as respectable as the talent within, in that it inspired the entire subgenre of Neoclassical Metal, and had a huge influence on the Japanese metal scene for some reason. However, I'd rather listen to almost any Yngwie-influenced Neoclassical Metal band than this album devoid of substance.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Rising Force

Album · 1984 · Neoclassical metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
martindavey87
Yngwie Malmsteen’s 1984 debut, ‘Rising Force’, is the album that inspired a whole generation to grab a guitar and learn how to play it really, really fast, as well as giving birth to what’s known as the neoclassical subgenre, a hybrid of metal guitar playing with classical music themes. It’s a highly influential album. But does it hold up well today?

Not really.

I went into this album with some intrigue. The outspoken Malmsteen has never been too modest to tell us underlings of his superior musical abilities, so I was interested to see what the fuss was about. And to be honest, I find it pretty boring. Don’t get me wrong, he plays with absolute precision and intensity, and no doubt in 1984 this was groundbreaking stuff. But by today’s standards, it just sounds like the same recycled classical lick played over and over.

There are a few songs with vocals which aren’t too bad, ‘Now Your Ships Are Burned’ and ‘As Above, So Below’, and in this aspect Malmsteen’s playing suits the music well. But for the most part, I just find this album dull, with all the songs serving as a self-indulgent excuse to play the same guitar scales as fast as possible.

Except for one song; ‘Icarus’ Dream Suite Op. 4’.

Wow! Where did this come from?! I can tolerate mindless shredding here, because the melodies when the song slows down are incredible. The clean guitar playing, the keyboards, everything here just comes together perfectly! This song itself is pretty damn amazing, and while ‘Rising Force’ generally bores the hell out of me, this song alone is enough for me to at least come back for more and see what else the master of men can conjure up.

No doubt this is highly regarded by fans, and in particular, by other guitarists, as a classic. But it just doesn’t work for me.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN Movies Reviews

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