YNGWIE MALAMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE  "War To End All Wars"

TRACK LISTING

1. Prophet Of Doom

2. Crucify

3. Bad Reputation

4. Catch 22

5. Masquerade

6. Molto Arpeggiosa

7. Miracle Of Life

8. The Wizard

9. Preludium

10. Wild One

11. Tarot

12. Instrumental Institution

13. War To End All Wars

14. Black Sheep Of The Family

Rising Force:

Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar, sitar, bass, gong, vocals)

Mark Boals (vocals)

Mats Olausson (keyboards)

John Macaluso (drums)

 

This Swedish-born guitar virtuoso was the originator of the high-speed, technically precise, neo-classical style that developed during the 1980s. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie Van Halen, Malmsteen first picked up a guitar at the age of five and had formed his first band, Powerhouse, by the time he entered his teens. At age 14 he formed Rising, named after Rainbow 's second album, and recorded a series of demo tapes. One of these was picked up by producer and guitar specialist Mike Varney. Malmsteen was persuaded by Varney to relocate to Los Angeles and join Ron Keel's Steeler as lead guitarist, and went straight into the studio to record the band's debut album. Following this he was approached by Kiss, UFO and Ozzy Osbourne, but declined their offers in favour of teaming up with Graham Bonnet in a new group called Alcatrazz. This association lasted for one studio album and a live set, recorded in Japan. After the dissolution of that band, Malmsteen was immediately offered a solo contract by Polydor Records, just as his reputation and stature were beginning to escalate. He released the self-produced Rising Force, utilizing ex- Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow, vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and keyboardist Jens Johansson. This comprised a mixture of new songs and reworked demo material that had been available for several years. Deciding to work within a band framework once more, but this time exercising tight control, Malmsteen formed Rising Force with Soto and Johansson, plus bassist Marcel Jacob and drummer Anders Johansson. This basic formation recorded two albums, the second of which, Trilogy, saw Soto replaced by ex- Ted Nugent vocalist Mark Boals, which showcased Malmsteen's amazing virtuosity and ability to combine speed with melody. Following an 18-month break after a serious road accident involving Malmsteen, Rising Force was resurrected with ex-Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner. Produced by Jeff Glixman and mixed by the Thompson/Barbiero team, Odyssey was released in 1988 to widespread acclaim. At last Malmsteen's guitar pyrotechnics were anchored within commercial hard rock structures. The guitar solos, for once, were economical, and did not detract from the songs. The album reached number 40 on the US Billboard album chart and brought many new fans to the guitarist. Eager to capitalize on this success, Malmsteen then issued a disappointing and self-indulgent live album recorded in Leningrad. The momentum was lost and Joe Lynn Turner was dismissed, to be replaced with a Swedish vocalist, Goran Edman. Eclipse emerged in 1990 with weak vocals and an unusually restrained Malmsteen on guitar, and it appeared that he was suppressing his real desires and talents in the search for commercial success. Fire And Ice debuted at number 1 in the Japanese charts, and introduced new vocalist Mike Vescera. Malmsteen switched back to his old flamboyant style on No Mercy, however, which featured classical material and a string orchestra. In 1996 he joined with Jeff Scott Soto as Human Clay to issue their self-titled debut.