Facts and thoughts of
Yngwie J. Malmsteen's
studio albums.

The album "Facing The Animal"
(1997/98)

The songs
1 Braveheart*
2 Facing The Animal
3 Enemy
4 Sacrifice*
5 Like An Angel
6 My Resurrection*
7 Another Time
8 Heathens From The North
9 Alone In Paradise
10 End Of My Rope
11 Only The Strong
12 Poison In Your Veins*
13 Air On A Theme
All compositions, lyrics and arrangements by: Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Produced by: Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Chris Tsangarides
Engineered by: Chris Tsangarides assisted by Keith Rose
Mixed by: Chris Tsangarides at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida, USA
Mastered by: Rod Fuller at Fuller Sound, Miami, Florida, USA
Recorded at: Studio 308 and Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida, USA
Guitar technician: Peter Rooth

Yngwie J. Malmsteen: Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar*, acoustic guitar, vocals
Mats Levén: Lead vocals
Mats Olausson: Keyboards
Cozy Powell: Drums
Barry Dunaway: Bass

Management: Jim Lewis

My own opinion of this album.
This is a very different Yngwie album and the stamp are the lyrics in the songs and the lack of the broad musical variety that usually are the stamp of Yngwie's music.
The lyrics describes, with a few exceptions, one (or more?) broken relationship or disappointment.
Musically Yngwie proves his amazing ability at some points, for instance the absolutely awesome Air On A Theme.
Otherwise the album feels somewhat tired, like if the inspiration has gone - perhaps depending on his private life at that time.
Note however, that the music shows a wider depth as for arrangements by well worked and harmonized background vocals and chorus than any of his former albums.
  • Total credit points: 37
  • Average credit points: 2.85
  • Musical variation: 2
  • Total sound quality: 5
  • Sound quality, treble: 5
  • Sound quality, bass: 5
  • Sound quality, purity: 5
 Front cover of Facing The Animal

Back to Yngwie index Inspiration Alchemy E-mail your comments or suggestions

Valid HTML 4.01!

Copyright © 2002, 2003 Ingemar Uvhagen