Rising Force
III
Feb 1, 1994
This is the "charm" issue of Rising Force.
This issue is coming your way from sunny Portland, OR, where I'll be
spending a few months. If you're in the area, maybe drop me a line and
point me to some the local places to check out.
It seems not everyone has received the Premiere issue (the list overwhelmed
my mailer!). If you didn't get it (it has the discography) let me know.
By the way, if you ever send mail to me that you do NOT want to appear in here,
please let me know then, otherwise I will assume you don't mind the information
shared with the other subscribers. Or, you may sbmit anonymously:
The artist of the logo entry above goes by Rat Magnett. (Hmm, I know the Rat the
Magnett attracted...)
--Yngwie news----
From: Igor [email protected]>
The March Guitar FTPM (on shelves today!) has some Yngwie news.
Among the letters to the editor is a note from Anne Petty, Director of
Malmsteen's Militia. Yngwie is in Miami with his wife Amber (December
marriage). Six of his songs are mixed already, and 6 more are still to
go. There is a song, "Seventh Sign," which is supposedly the best
display of Bach counterpoint Yngwie has done so far.
From: Muddy Mudskipper [email protected]>
I have all of the scheduled tour dates for Yngwie Malmsteen's East Coast
tour. They are as follows:
2/18 - Button South (Hallandale, FL)
2/19 - Jannus Landing (St. Petersburg, FL)
2/20 - Station (Orlando, FL)
2/22 - Roxy Theatre (Atlanta, GA)
2/24 - The Ritz (Raleigh, NC <----- I'm goin' to this one!!)
2/25 - Rittenhouse Square (Winston-Salem, NC)
2/26 - Rocky's (Charlotte, NC)
2/27 - Peppermint Beach Club (Virginia Beach, VA)
*Dates in Washington, Connecticut, and New York are being added
If you aren't able to catch him in February, he'll be coming back to the
U.S. in May. Dates haven't yet been set.
[I think the source of these is The Malmsteen's Militia newsletter. -Ig]
From: [email protected]>
In Tokyo A Musical Insturumental Festival opend at Nov 3-6. Yngwie J
Malmsteen was invited in this Festival. He visited Japan to promote a
certain company of instrument. He opened a signature meeting. He joined
new his fiancee. She is gaudy.:-( He will come to Japan to concert in
March. He has been popular in Japan since Alcatraz.
--Yngwie olds----
From: Troy [email protected]>
The live Alcatrazz video is, as far as I know, a Japanese release, and
the concert which the 'Live Sentence' album came from.
From: Stratos [email protected]>
Here in Greece I found two Yngwie's bootlegs:"I am a Viking" and "As
Above so Below". I am sure you have noticed that they are named after
Yngwie's songs.
From: Kalle [email protected]>
I've heard that Ritchie was Yngwie's teacher before. Does this only mean
that Yngwie has listened to Ritchies tapes or did R really teach Y?
Anyway, Ritchie has answered to this talk about copying: "If Yngwie
copies me, he does it so well, that let him do it."
I've also heard about some bootleg album about Yngwies stuff in the 70's
in Sweden (when he already was the best guitarist in the world according
to some people). It contains among others a much different version of
"Magic Mirror" and, even better, "Opus #3"!!!! Has somebody ever heard of
it? Who were in Yngwie's band (Rising Force?) in the 70's?
Would you like to set up a vote about
- Yngwie's albums: (e.g. marks from 0 to 10, Yngwie scale of course, we
don't need 6 tens.)
- Yngwie's top five songs
[Sure, I'd tabulate it, but I just want to emphasize that this digest
isn't for Yngwie only. -Ig]
--Jason Becker----
From: Igor [email protected]>
The February Guitar FTPM has a letter from Jason Becker documenting his
battle with ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). The bad news is it has
progressed so much that he can't walk, write, or talk legibly, much less
play guitar anymore. The good news is that the disease only attacks the
muscles, and leaves the brain alone. Jason was able to write music for
his new album with a computer setup. This will have several orchestral
pieces (>100 piece orchestra!), a choral piece, and of course guitar too
(played by Michael Lee Firkins).
--Lanny Cordola----
From: Clive [email protected]>
Well Lanny Cordola has 2 solo albums available, both on Christian labels.
The first is Electric Warrior, Acoustic Saint, which has about 26 tracks
on it, quite a few of which are less than 1 minute long. However of the
full-length instrumental tracks, he really does let it rip... you`ve got
to hear his version of Mozart`s "Marriage Of Figaro".. I think he`s got a
lot more depth to his playing than your average neoclassical player..
this album in general is good, but is very irritating at times as you
have to sit through many short weird bits..
His other album is on the Christian label ERG and is called "Of Riffs And
Symphonies", a much better project than the previous one, it contains 14
tracks, 10 of which are instrumental, and of which Armashreddin` and The
Obstinate Toy Soldier come across as being the most neoclassical, though
their are a couple of other styles on the album too... I think it works
quite well. Electric Warrior... is on Intense Records.. These were
recorded after Lanny left secular group House Of Lords.. EWAS (1991) and
ORAS (1992).
From: Troy [email protected]>
As far as the Lanny Cordola albums go, I have never seen them anywhere
besides Christian bookstores; therefore, you may not be able to find
a lot of information. The second release, which I only have on tape, is
entitled 'Of Riffs and Symphonies.' I haven't checked in a while, so
he may have released a few more records. There are a few vocal
tracks....also some Bible passages on the inside. I don't care if he's a
satan worshipper - he can play.
--Mekong Delta----
From: [email protected]>
They did some classical pieces 'the metal way', for example 'The
Hut of Baba Jaga' (the original is by Modest Mussorgsky) on their first
album and the title theme of 'Psycho'(!) on "Erich Zann". Most of the
time they are doing something in between classic and metal. The song
structures on the first three albums are quite conventional.
Just try them. (Some of my friends really hate Mekong Delta, others are
*real* fans)
--Accept---
From: Carsten [email protected]>
In a previous mail, I wrote that I like Accept's Metal Heart because it's
"straight ahead" metal and because of the classical solos in it, and your
comment was that this was a remarkable contradiction.
I do _not_ see any contradiction here because what I mean with "straight
ahead metal" is that it is hard and fast and without unnecessary lines.
This holds, IMHO, for most of the songs on this album.
This does not imply that they are simple and without musical ideas.
Early Saxon would be another example of this kind of "straigt" metal.
Compare it, e.g., with Iron Maiden: Their songs are much more complex,
at least on the average, and not "straight ahead". I'm sure you could
leave out many things, and the songs would still be good - 'though of
course not Maiden style anymore. Now back to Accept: Could you imagine
"reducing" these songs? I could not, they are "minimal" in some sense,
but nevertheless very good.
I hope you understand what I mean. I admit it's not easy to express in
words, and even harder in a foreign language...
[Objection Overruled. (just kidding, Carsten :-) -Ig]
--Helloween----
From the net: Jeff [email protected]>
As a matter of fact, I happen to have Keeper Pt. 1 in my CD player hear
at work right now! Awesome album with really intense clasically
influenced guitar lines. I think part of the solos on "Halloween" are
from a classical piece called ummmmm "Hungarian March" or something like
that. Too cool. Keeper Pt. II falls a close second. Unfortunately they
started this trend of putting weird/funny songs on their albums with this
CD. Case in point, "Dr. Stein", "Rise and Fall"... kinda stupid. But
most of the other tracks make up for these two blemishes. Even they're
worst song on these two albums beats the crap out of that Seattle
crap!!!!
[Can anyone verify "Hungarian March?" Who is it by? -Ig]
From the net: [email protected]>
_Chameleon_ is the album which followed the underrated and much disliked
_Pink Bubbles Go Ape_. _Chameleon_ is a weird album. It is very melodic
but the songs are not as immediate as "I Want Out" etc. However, Imho it
is a worthwhile investment. Songs, like "Longing," "I Believe," "First
Time," and "When The Sinner" are all extraordinary! And very PROG to
boot:-) Helloween's sound has changed and imho, it's for the better.
[More on Helloween under Savatage below. -Ig]
From: [email protected]>
Chroming Rose is a German band. Since adding another guitarist they have
become a more than worthy Helloween substitute now that Helloween have
lost the plot totally. I only have two albums. 'Louis XIV' (1990)
I bought after hearing 'Garden of Eden' (1991). Basically 'Garden of
Eden' sounds like Helloween right down to the singer and fast guitar
melodies. Its even produced by Tommy Hansen who has worked with
Helloween in the same role. The earlier 'Louis XIV' lacks new guitarist
Rikki Rieger who wrote most of the music on 'Garden of Eden' and provides
a twin lead guitar attack (the band had 4 members before Garden of Eden,
now 5). Apparently 'Pressure' was released in 1992, and I'm still waiting
for details from the original poster as to what this album is like,
however, if its as good as 'Garden of Eden' then I'll get it.
--Savatage----
From the net: Philip [email protected]>
I believe [the prelude to Savatage's _Hall of the Mountain King_ is based
on a] Grieg [composition]. The original version if I recall correctly is
titled "March Of The Trolls." I get this and Schubert's "Unfinished
Symphony" mixed up mostly because both songs were used in the Smurfs
cartoon soundtrack. Plus, I played both when I used to play for an
orchestra at Muskinghum College.
[It is Edvard Grieg, but I recall seing sheet music for a piece
actually entitled _Hall OtMK_. This melody is also used in a solo in
an old Helloween song (Gorgar?) from _Walls of Jericho_. The theme
also loosely and briefly appears in the first song from Maestro Alex
Gregory's _Paganini's Last Stand_. -Ig]
--Danzig----
From Screaming In Digital v123: Matt [email protected]>
If anyone on the list has even a fleeting interest in classical music
Glenn Danzig's - yes _that_ Glenn Danzig - "Black Aria" is a must hear.
[Matt - you sent the recommendation to the wrong digest! -Ig]
--Lillian Axe----
From Hardrock Mailing List #21 [email protected]>
One band that might be overlooked is Lillian Axe. Though the influence
isn't apparent in every song, the lead guitarist and primary song-writer
Stevie Blaze shows some definite classical influences in his solos and
song composition. Also, check out I,Napoleon's "Concierto In D Minor."
[The Concierto is a short keyboard piece. It is very basic (I could
recreate it onmy keyboard in 20 minutes), but has a classical melody
and progression, and is at least worth a listen. -Ig]
--Steve Morse----
From Hardrock Mailing List #21: Kevin [email protected]>
I'm planning an interview w/ Steve Morse for Portland Guitar Society
Mag., a few internet news groups and this list (if there's interest
here). Anything you've always wanted to know about Steve Morse? I can't
promise I'll use your questions, but if time permits I just might.
[Send your questions directly to Kevin at [email protected]> -Ig]
--Discography update----
From: Mel [email protected]>
At least half neo-classical:
Bernd Steidl Psycho Acoustic Overture Shrapnel Yes
[He has a unique style - hyperfast acoustic picking. His themes on
this album remind me of themes from Halloween (the movie, not the
song) -Ig]
Jason Becker Perpetual Burn Shrapnel Yes
Marty Friedman Dragon's Kiss Shrapnel Yes
[The above 3 had just slipped my mind - thanks Mel. -Ig]
Maestro Alex Gregory's _PLS_ is on Priority Records, and Alcatrazz's
_NPFR&R_ is on Grand Slamm (two m's). Which reminds me:
Alcatrazz No Parole Live (??) Grand Slamm some
SOME neoclassical content:
Believer Dimensions Roadrunner No
They're a pretty heavy band, sounding like traditional progressive
metal in some songs, "groove" metal (a la Pantera) in others. They're
also a Christian band, and their lyrics do tend to be a little preachy...
Anyway, I included them because they have a real violinist in their
band, and the last song (all three parts of it) is very classically
influenced. I like it, but it may be a little heavier than what
neoclassical is usually thought to be. The other songs don't seem to be
really classically influenced. At least not much more than usual, heavy
progressive metal is...
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they use a soprano voice in the
last song as well. It's really pretty strange, sorta like heavy metal
opera...but more traditionally classical. Hope that makes sense.
Cacophony Speed Metal Symphony Shrapnel 2/7
Cacophony Go Off! Shrapnel 2/8
[I heard Go Off, and found to hard to listen to (those that was a while
back). The only thing I liked were the 2 instrumentals, and the ending
of Black Cat. Is _SMS_ along the same lines? -Ig]
Hmm... if you found _Go Off!_ to be hard to listen to, _SMS_ would
probably be even harder. It's definately a heavier disc. But it has two
incredible instrumentals, one called "Concerto", and another called
"Speed Metal Symphony". "Concerto" is short, but "Speed Metal Symphony"
clocks in at around 8:00 (plus 1:30 of noise at the end). Like the
instrumentals on _GO_, they are both pretty free-form instrumentals,
not nearly as structured as a MacAlpine song. I think they have the same
vocalist, but _GO_ seems more polished.
Come to think of it, I'm going to say that both belong in the
neoclassical category. But they are probably more through-composed than
any others I've heard. I suppose it's more of a modern (Stravinsky, etc.)
influence than the others.
Various Ominous Guitarists from the Unknown Shrapnel Yes
[I heard the Chopin piece on there - pretty amazing! -Ig]
It's a piece called "Chopin Fantasie", by a guy named Ron Thal.
The rest of his stuff supposedly isn't neoclassical, but this one
certainly is. In the middle, he goes off and does his best Allan
Holdsworth impression, but the beginning and end are neoclassical, and
IMO pretty incredible.
Bernd Steidl also has a track on here, but those are the only two
really neoclassical songs on the disc. It's a great disc, tho.
--Farewell----
That's it for this issue. Keep the submissions coming, and to quote Vinnie
Vincent Invasion, "Tell your friends about us..."
P.S. Name this tune:
As
----
So
