Rising Force
V
Mar 17, 1994
Here we are again. We have catapulted past 100 subscribers, and are well
on our way to 150. In this issue we have a extensive review of the new
Yngwie album. There is also some information/speculation on European and
American release dates. I have also received a submission from Richard in
Holland with Jason Becker's letter in Guitar FTPM transcribed. It is a
huge letter (30K), and not all might be interested. I will send it out in
a separate issue, but will give you 1 week to reply saying you don't want
the traffic. Future subscribers (i.e. if this is a back issue to you) will
need to request that issue specifically. Richard also did an interview
with Bernt Steidl, but because of the Yngwie excitemnt now, I will save
that for a later issue.
--Yngwie album news----
From: Neil [email protected]>
Well I went out last week and bought Yngwie's new album, "The
Seventh Sign". Pretty appropriate title considering the title track
appears as track 7 on his 7th studio album! Apparently it hasn't been
released in Holland yet. I ended up with the Japanese import which was
considerably more expensive. It came in a little box including what I
think is a merchandise order form (it's in Japanese) and a picture book.
The pictures are mostly of Yngwie, at what looks like an old military air
base, plus a couple of him in his apartment and one of his cat. Its
pretty obvious he likes beer and guitars.
So what's it like? About half of the album I really love. The
rest is shall we say "typical" latter-Yngwie type fodder. But I wouldn't
say it's his best album. I still consider "Trilogy" his best work. If he
recorded "Marching Out" again, it might sound something like this.
I like the new singer. I can make out what he's saying far more
clearly than theprevious guy. I'd certainly put him up there with Mark
and Jeff. He's also not quite as stiffly operatic, perhaps a little more
aggressive sounding which gives it more feel.
*** I warn anybody who doesn't want to get any idea of the albums content *
*** to stop reading at this point. It might contain SPOILERS. *
The opening track is typical Yngwie on his perpetual/immortality
theme called "Never Die". Nice fast one to start with, but it doesn't
blow me away like "You don't Remember, I'll never forget".
There are two instrumentals on this album. The first one
"Brothers" is pretty straight forward and not as dramatic as his other
efforts. "Sorrow" is an acoustic number which sounds like it's been done
on three guitars. It's quite emotional, a bit like "Memories".
Although I enjoy Yngwie's classical feel, I like it when he
breaks the mould a bit and there are a couple on here that do that.
"Hairtrigger" is one of my
favourites with a solid metal riff, that doesn't remind me of anything
he's done before. Such a shame its only about 2:30 long!
"I don't know" and "Angel in Heat" show Yngwie in Hendrix mode. The
former is co-written with the vocalist and contains the word "Fuck" which
is unusual for Yngwie. The latter closes the album and sounds like it was
recorded on the spot, live, since the production is notably more "mushy"
than the rest of the album.
It also sounds like Yngwie does the vocals on this one. Another one
of my favourites is "Bad Blood", with a slow bluesy feel, not unlike
Whitesnake's "Crying in the Rain".
Other tracks worth mentioning include the title track, "Pyramid
of Cheops" and "Crash and Burn". "The Seventh Sign" is lyrically related
to "C'est la Vie", and includes the longest guitar solo on the album. It
also includes Bach-esque bits for the intro and at the start of the solo.
"Pyramid of Cheops" has a nice Sitar intro (ala "C'est la Vie") but has a
slave driving beat which reminds more of Dio's "Chains are On" or Blue
Murder's "Valley of the Kings". Of these three I like "Crash and Burn"
best, a pretty uptempo number in which he duets with a Harpsichord. I
think this track harks back to his earlier days more than the rest of the
album.
The remaining stuff is good but similar in style to "Fire and
Ice". The tracks "Meant to be", and "Forever One" are a bit too
sentimental for me. There's a rock ballad called "Prisoner of your love"
which was written by Amberdawn and contains Bach's "Air on the G String"
for the chorus - nice touch.
Summary? I think I'd give it 7/10. Not his best effort, but
although much of it is typical Yngwie, it does contains some material
that stood out.
The thing I do find worrying is that on the last page of the
picture book it says "To all my Fans", and since I haven't heard of any
European release date yet (don't know about the states), one wonders if
this is a special one off thing, releasing it in Japan perhaps as a
tribute to his success there.
Time will tell.
From ISCA Rock: Clive [email protected]>
Yngwie Malmsteen has finally got an album deal. His new album will be
released on the Music For nations label, in Europe late this month, and
in the US sometime after. I saw a review of it in a UK mag called RAw
and it was called "Eye Of The Storm." It got ****1/2 out of ***** The
album "Seventh Sign" has been out in Japan for the last 5 weeks now.
From: Richard [email protected]>
The new Yngwie album will be released on March 15th on the continent (of
Europe, that is). It's been out in Japan for at least a week as I write
this, but I haven't heard anything of it, even though people tell me he
even played some of the "Seventh Sign" stuff on a short tour he did in
autumn last year.
From Aaron [email protected]>
I think Yngwie said Mar. 22nd, [in the US] but I forget exactly.
--Yngwie concert news----
From: Aaron [email protected]>
I saw Yngwie's kick off show at the Plus Five in Ft. Lauderdale Feb.19th.
I think he said the album was released that day everywhere but the U.S.
and will be here around March 22nd. He is kinda fat and is starting to
bear an uncanny resemblance to the late British comedian Benny Hill.
The show was very enjoyable. He played 4 songs from the new album which
ranged greatly in quality. He threw about 50 picks into the audience and
I didn't get shit. He and the band seemed very enthusiastic and glad to
be there. The keyboard player was Mats Olausson (sp?) but I've never
heard of any of the other band members.
From: Nino [email protected]>
I saw Yngwie Saturday night (3/12) in a Charlotte rock club called
Rockys. It was pretty cool. He played Blackstar and You Don't emember -
I'll Never Forget, (although he left out 'Greensleeves' from the lattr.)
He joked with the crowd about the Sweedish hockey team doing so well, and
asked if anyone wanted to hear him speak Sweedish(He didn't). Besides
the obligitory Heaven Tonight and a few Jimi Hendrix tunes he played a
few cuts off the new album (nothing really stood out in my mind from what
I heard). Other than one or two minor mistakes he put on a great show.
Definitely catch it if you can. He even played the beginning to Lenny
Kravitz's Are You Going My Way? (Then said woops wrong song).
--Yngwie olds----
From the net: Ihsan [email protected]>
In a recent mag the following was written about YJM:
Since his days in Alcatrazz, the outspoken guitarist has repeatedly
come up trumps with Japanese audiences, despite a popularity
downslide elsewhere.
"My last LP ("Fire and Ice") entered the charts at Number One, far
exceeding previous efforts," he begins. "Obviously, I'm gonna
concentrate on that, but I don't force myself on them. They just seem
to love everything I do."
Is there a specific market in Japan for specialist guitarists?
"Yeah. They're very quality conscious in Japan, which is why Michael
Schenker, Ritchie Blackmore and Gary Moore have always been big there.
Those guys can can play!"
"Some people in the Japanese press are starting to say I'm trying to
compete directly with the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai.
Exactly like they did in the US," he snorts disapprovingly. "I don't
feel that way at all.
"They also say I don't play with feeling, which is a crock of shit.
Whether it's music, lyrics or solos that I'm composing, I bleed every
time I play!"
Would you ever consider relocating to move closer to your primary market?
"No. I like living in the US, even though the musical climate is
bad - only Pearl Jam and Rappers sell albums. It's a real shame, but
whatever the business trends are, I firmly believe that good music
will always prevail."
From the net: [email protected]>
There is a better version of Leviathan on "The Guitars that Rule the
World" published by Guitar World on Metal Blade records. This is a CD
compilation of guitarists such as Paul Gilbert, Nuno Bettencourt, Zak
Wilde and much more. The version of Levaithan on that CD IMHO is much
better than the one on Yngwie J. Malmsteem's Fire & Ice.
[I couldn't notice that it's THAT much better, just a little differnt.
-Ig]
From: Tom [email protected]>
One of Kevin Moore's biggest influences is Jens Johansen (sp?) from
Yngwie Malmsteem. A GREAT keyboard player. The only differnece is that
Johansen is in a more limiting situation then Moore. (Not to say
Malmsteen's music is limited in scope, he is one of my favorites, just
that Dt is more diverse.) If you had taken the time to compare the two
keyboardists for even a min you would notice a definite similarity in
their styles. Yngwie is acclaimed to be one of the fastest guitar
players around (BTW he is also very melodic and a very strong song
writer) Jens Johansen has to be able to play his keyboard solo's at a
similar speed with good harmonic qualities. And he does do with ease.
Also a lot of the keyboard parts, especially those that harmonize withe
the gutarist (John Petrucci) are reminicent of Malsteem-Johansen.
From: Kevin [email protected]>
I have a question concerning the name "Rising Force." When did Yngwie
start using it for his band? Did he borrow the name from the cover art
from the Electric Sun "Earthquake" album? The front and back cover
paintings were by Monika Dannemann (sp?) and there's the title "Rising
Force" given in the credits.
[Is this the same Dannemann that has partial credits for the Scorpions'
"We'll Burn the Sky?" -Ig]
Didn't Yngwie acknowledge Uli Roth on an early album?
[Read the next entry :-) -Ig]
From the net: [email protected]>
Malmsteen's pre-Steeler Swedish band was called 'Rising Force', after
the cover painting of UliJon Roth/Electric Sun's first album...
When Malmsteen left in early '83, they replaced him with a friend of
his, Jonas Hansen, changed the name to Silver Mountain (taken from
the first song on the first Rainbow album) and released 'Shakin'
Brains' in 1984. The JoHanson [sic] bros left right after that to join
Malmsteen solo band, so Hansen replaced them and released three more
albums 'Universe','Live in Tokyo' and 'Roses and Champaign'. The band
then folded sometime in 87 and Hansen now produces in LA.
BTW, the guitar solo right before "Hot on Your Heels" on the Steeler
album was to be entitled 'Rising Force' but Mike Varney didn't like
the idea.
--Talisman/Jeff Scott Soto----
From the net: Christi [email protected]>
Jeff Scott Soto formed Talisman with Marcel Jacob(ex-yngwie, ex-norum)
back in 1989 I think. Until now they released two albums, Talsiman
(1990?) and Genesis (1993). The first one exists in two different
versions, one containing 11 songs (the original version, very rare) and
the other version containing 17 songs 11 from the original and 6 bonus
live trax, but the live sound is very bad, so, if you got the chance to
catch the org. BUY IT!!! MJ does nearly all drums, all bass, all rhythm
gtr. Both albums sound sometimes a little bit like Malmsteen stuff, ImHO.
JSS did also vocals on two albums of former Steeler gtr player Axel Rudi
Pell. He also did some backvox for var. artists.
From the net: Ihsan [email protected]>
It's funny how things link up.. What I mean is: bassist Marcel
Jacob (after leaving Malmsteen's Rising Force) teamed up with
Swedish guitarist John Norum (ex-Europe), drummer Peter
Hermansson (ex-220 Volt) and vocalist Goran Edman (ex-Madison).
Funnily enough, Goran Edman eventually left Norum and joined
Yngwie Malmsteen! Edman appears on two of Malmsteen's albums,
Eclipse (1990) and Fire And Ice (1992).
I don't know where Edman is now, but I know Jeff Scott Soto is
reported to be in the lineup of Taraka, and Mike Vescera
(ex-Obsession, ex-Loudness) is apparently the new throat for
Yngwie Malmsteen.
--Mekong Delta----
From Aaron [email protected]>
I picked up a live album by Mekong Delta, after hearing it I think it was
this list that I heard about them on! It's pretty cool, Live At An
Exhibition, it was an import and has no liner notes to speak of, I don't
have it in front of me though.
--Joe Stump----
From: Jason [email protected]>
I've been into Yngwie's music for about three years now. I first saw him
at Toad's Place in New Haven Ct. and just recently saw him at Pearl
Street here in Mass. While at the show I met Joe Stump. I talked to him
for about 5 minutes. He's a really nice guy and said he was working with
one of the guitarist from Anthrax (I forgot his name), and will be
putting out another album similiar to Guitar Dominance. Oh, like Yngwie,
I don't like donuts either (I'll explain later if you don't understand).
[I don't understand. Please explain. -Ig]
--Impilliteri----
From: Stephen [email protected]>
Has anyone but me noticed the similarity between Yngwie's song
"Making Love" and Impellitteri's song "Stand in Line"?
[Yes, I noticed it right away. The songs start out with nearly
identical chord progressions. Stand In Line was first though. -Ig]
--Jennifer Batten----
From: Jason [email protected]>
'Flight of the Bumblebee' has been by at least one guitarist that I know
of. Jennifer Batten is a guitarist for Michael Jackson (!) who released
an solo album called 'Above, Below and Beyond' which isn't neo-classical,
but basic heavy metal. But it starts out with 'Flight...' which is
really COOL! I think she is a great guitarist, but isn't a neoclassical
one.
[Manowar also does "Flight..." on their Kings of Metal album. It is
done on bass guitar. -Ig]
--Jason Becker Discography----
From: Richard [email protected]>
Cacophony, "Speed Metal Symphony", 1987
An album where Jason plays all songs together with Marty
Friedman (who also did all bass). Most songs also feature vocals
(by Peter Marrino), with Atma Anur on drums.
Marty Friedman, "Dragon's Kiss", 1988
Marty's solo album, featuring Jason playing guest solos on two
songs.
Jason Becker, "Perpetual Burn", 1988
Jason's only solo album, featuring 7 altogether brilliant and
magical instrumentals, three of which co-feature Marty Friedman.
Jason did the production and all bass guitar and keyboards, too.
Atma Anur did the drumming.
Cacophony, "Go Off!", 1988
The second Cacophony album. Again, Jason with Marty together
with vocals by Peter Marrino, drums by Deen Castronovo and bass
by Jimmy O'Shea. Jason co-produced it.
Various artists, "Guitar Masters", 1989
This is a Shrapnel Records sampler. Jason plays on "Altitudes"
(taken off "Perpetual Burn") and "X-Ray Eyes" (taken off "Go
Off!"). Other artists on it are e.g. Marty Friedman, Racer X,
Greg Howe and Joey Tafolla. Don't bother getting this if you have
the others already.
Howe II, "High Gear", 1989
This is the second album of Greg Howe, but now with vocals and
other band members so the band was now named "Howe II". Jason
plays a guest solo on the song "Party Favors".
Kotzen, Richie, "Richie Kotzen", 1989
This album does not actually feature Jason on the guitar, but he
did co-produce it. Quite a good album, actually.
David Lee Roth, "A Little Ain't Enough", 1991
After Marty Friedman went to join Megadeth, Jason joined David
Lee Roth's band, where Steve Vai departure to Whitesnake had left
a formidable gap to be filled. Unfortunately, Jason had to
restrain himself on all tracks. Only on the last two songs, "It's
Showtime!" and "Drop in the Bucket", he really gets down (he co-
wrote these songs as well). He left the band after this
recording, and didn't even tour with them - probably due to his
disease.
Various artists, "Guitar's Practising Musicians Vol. 2", 1991
By odd coincidence I bought this CD the day before I got the
above article. Fate or what?! It featured one track by Jason, a
cover of Bob Dylan's "Meet Me in the Morning". Even though he
claims his guitar playing is below par, I still think it's one of
the best tracks on the album despite the presence of vocals.
Other tracks on this CD include contributions from Mark Wood.
Steve Morse, Nuno Bettencourt and Bruce Kulick.
Jason's birthday is on July 22nd. He was born in 1969. Make sure
his upcoming 24th birthday will be one he'll never forget. Send
some supportive mail and birthday cards to the following address:
Jason Becker
P.O. Box 5109
Richmond, CA 94805
United States of America
--Misc----
From: Janell [email protected]>
Regarding Igor's comment on Tony Macalpine MAXIMUM SECURITY: I looked at
the track listings on a copy and I think that "Etude #4 Opus #10" must be
Chopin, but I wonder if "Porcelain Doll" is not Chopin, but rather the
Villa-Lobos piano piece by that name.
[Porcelain Doll is Tony's name for the song that wased based on one of
Chopin's pieces with another name (probably just a number) -Ig]
Does anyone know if "Concerto in D Minor" by I,Napoleon has a classical
source? If so, what?
[I doubt it. It is a simple keyboard piece that takes all of 2 seconds
to figure out how to play. It is just a classical progression, no
originality there at all. -Ig]
Is the group Mastermind really heavy metal or just progressive? I heard
they do some versions of classical music, but I have no other details
yet. Any ideas?
--Farewell----
From: Richard [email protected]>
I think the Rising Force list is one of the most interesting lists on the
net because it is heavily guitar-oriented and I have never even seen a
glossy magazine that mentioned Becker, Malmsteen and Cacophony in ONE
issue. Keep up the good work!
[Thanks! Keep up the good submissions! -Ig]
