Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Perpetual Flame
KOCH Records
Neoclassical Metal
12 songs (66:09)
Release year: 2008
Yngwie Malmsteen, KOCH Records
Reviewed by Storm
Major event

I’ve been a Malmsteen mark since the Odyssey days. I got hooked on Malmsteen’s amazing technical and speed combination and never looked back. I don’t know why but Malmsteen always mesmerizes me each time he puts his amazing fingers up and down that fret board at blistering speed. Of course there are a few guitarists out there that are faster than Malmsteen but pound of pound Malmsteen rules when it comes to speed and technique combined.

The one thing about Malmsteen though, he’s very consistent with his guitar playing. But one thing he isn’t consistent with and that’s with his singers. Malmsteen goes through singers like someone using toilet paper after eating taco bell. Although he did stick with Doogie White for 7 years, the longest singer to remain with Malmsteen. Malmsteen also goes through other band members quickly. He’s gone through several different keyboardists, drummers, and bassists throughout the years, it’s really hard to keep score but nonetheless he does put out solid albums.

And with his new release Perpetual Flame, we begin a new chapter of the Malmsteen saga. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this album because the dream team of Malmsteen (my favorite guitarist) and one of my favorite singers, ex Judas Priest and Iced Earth singer Tim "Ripper" Owens. It's a dream team in the making to say the least. I mean come on folks the combination of Malmsteen's neoclassical guitar riffs combined with Owen's amazing range is like peanut butter and jelly.

But unfortunately I was disappointed with this release. It's still a solid Malmsteen release but overall it wasn't what I expected. Malmsteen still sounds good as ever in fact I would say he hasn't sounded this good in a while. But what disappointed me was Owens. For some reason Malmsteen didn't utilized Owens great range. He does belt out some high notes but not incredibly high like he's used to. You won't find songs like Iced Earth's 10,000 Strong or Judas Priest's Jugulator that Ripper is known for. The range that he sung those songs on don't appear on this album and that kind of makes me a little upset. I was hoping for some classic Ripper range but we won't see it here. I don't know why though maybe Malmsteen wanted to tone down his range to fit his neoclassical metal sound. The fact that Owens is known to sing in power and traditional metal bands, Malmsteen felt like his range didn't quite fit in with his style.

It's still a solid release though. Songs like the beginning song Death Dealer, which opens with Ripper wailing like he always does, is a nice opener. Other songs like Priest Of The Unholy, Damnation Game, and The Four Horsemen are also solid neoclassical songs as well. But songs like Red Devil and Be Careful What You Wish For don't do it for me at all. His instrumentals are also good. Caprici Di Diablo and Lamnet are classic Malmsteen instrumentals at its finest.

There is no wow factor on this album and it's surely not what I was expecting but overall it's still a decent album. Not Malmsteen's best but not his worst either. I just wish Yngwie would have used Ripper in a better way than on this album, then it would have been a killer album to say the least.

Killing Songs :
Priest Of The Unholy, Damnation Game, The Four Horsemen, Death Dealer
Storm quoted 75 / 100
Other albums by Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force that we have reviewed:
Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Unleash The Fury reviewed by Marty and quoted 80 / 100
Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Birth of the Sun reviewed by Jeff and quoted 65 / 100
Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Attack!! reviewed by Marty and quoted 70 / 100
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