Being extremely split over this new Yngwie album, its difficult to know just how to approach it. "Perpetual Flame" is a proper title, as it illustrates Yngwie's fire and passion for music, and how that will always burn brightly. The throwback to the old "Marching Out" and "Trilogy" recipes for creating songs is interesting, and certainly more entertaining than his past few works. Truthfully, he's been on a slow declining spiral ever since "Facing the Animal", so hearing his songs being a bit more perky and daring is a treat indeed. Everyone approaches a Malmsteen disc with basically the same expectation. You want to hear him stretching his guitar skills and creating music that seems technically impossible, but you also want good songs to go along with it. It's not enough just having killer, dazzling guitar solos (after solo, after solo... in the same song...and topped with yet another, solo). There needs to be an actual song to go along with it, to elevate it beyond an impressive demonstration of talent and agile ability. Thankfully "Perpetual Flame" remembers this, to a certain extent.

Roy Z helped mix the album and it shows. The production and mixing for "War to End All Wars" (a production to end all productions, but not in a good way) was downright embarrassing and set an all new low for Malmsteen's catalogue despite having a few decent tunes and Boals on vocals. It just wasn't enough when the sound was on par with a garage (myspace band). "Perpetual" sounds tough and indestructable, very clear and precise. It also keeps true to Malmsteen's "live" sound and his sweeping away to the trash heap anything that wasn't recorded pure and live. There's no samples here, yet it sounds wonderful.

The album opens in a flurry of notes and shattering screams for "Death Dealer". Ex-Judas Priest crooner Tim "Ripper" Owens is the lead on this album (taking over the spot from Doogie White, who in turn filled in the shoes of Mark Boals, who...) and sounds right at home with the zippy, brash music. He has the power of Jeff Scott Soto (and then some) and hits those crazy notes like Mark Boals can as well, plus has an even more aggressive and masculine sounding voice. He's a massive steamroller. Yngwie runs wild in multiple acts of solo-ness and Ripper thunders through the song like a fat lady on free donut day at Krispy Kreme. He just barrels right over everyone and dominates the difficult phrasings that Yngwie likes to put his singers through. He pretty much shoves everyone to the side except Yngwie, who wouldn't allow such a thing and just shreds all over the place whether the song really needs another flurry of guitar theatrics or not in furious retaliation. Vocals and guitars battle to the death on every song that has Ripper singing in it.  Which is amazing to hear, but also a slight bit exhausting as well.  There are a few other pieces that add variety, but the prevailing style is clearly "Marching Out" and could have been a B-side from those mid 80s sessions.

"Damnation Game" is more of the same... the two songs are practically interchangeable and there is a striking similarity to "I'll See the Light Tonight". For some reason I had been hoping for an album that was life changing and this let the reality set in that the whole disc was going to be a breakneck workout with no care given to the songs themselves.

But the thought was too soon and then "Live to Fight" took the battlefield. Bells tolling, ominous acoustic, a deliciously dark guitar riff and a thick powerful structure forces the song right into your mind. Tough, thunderous, epic and magnificent, all these words describe this track that is like waking up to an honest to goodness "Marching Out Part II" and not just another noodling B-side sounding second rate tune. It has fire, more like a volcanic rumbling eruption than a candle though. There is no subtlety here, it's all balls to the walls, full force, no holds barred kind of music, which is just perfect since it compliments Yngwie's spontaneous touch. "Red Devil" is straightforward metal, it smashes you like a hammer and has a slick melodic side as well. And what is the red devil exactly? It's Yngwie's Ferrari, of course.
"Be Careful What You Wish For" takes a page from the "Attack" album and features similiar guitar and bass melodies. It's all blustery ferocious velocity as Yng, Ripper and company blast through "4 Horseman of the Apocalypse" and other tracks. Bubble cauldron guitar work, lyricals all amuck about demons, omens and the loom of apocalypse.

Then the fleet fingered pacing and double drum pounding takes a breather for "Leventh Hour" (or "Eleventh Hour" or "THE Eleventh Hour" depending on where in the CD packaging you are presently looking at). This is a track that slows the rapid rush down to a menacing rumble. Eastern vibes prevail onstage, a rich lustrous setting of dunes and sand storms, the hot burning golden sun scorching just as readily as the guitar riffs. Ripper's versatile roaring voice rises to the challenge and handles the material with fluent ease. It's all very "Pyramids of Cheops" (from "The Seventh Sign") but missing the poignant overwrought "Stargazer" (Rainbow) inspired drama. A welcome change, but "Cheops" still trumps it, being the superior of the two songs, even if it is a decade or more "Hour's" senior.

"Magic City" is another that seems left field but is a nice diversion from all the thunder rattling neo-classical metal that wraps around it. It is a bluesy and mysterical little piece. Some could compare it to Hendrix but let's find someone more recent, say, John Sykes to link this to. Crazy classical solos are scattered throughout, interspersed with Yngwie's throaty singing. His voice is deep and pleasant, not equipped for his vocal acrobatics that he puts his lead singers through, but more than enough versatility to fashion a blues-metal bit in hues of passion. The song describes this mythical metropolis of marvellous wonders...also known as his adopted hometown of Miami, Florida.

Also of note are the three instrumentals. First there is "Caprici Di Diablo", a classical workout of massively talented porportions. Parts of this seem near impossible to pull off in reality but he does it, and therein lies the entertainment. Whether this is going to go over well for years of listening is another thing, but for a one trick pony piece to showcase that he is a guitar hero of monumental talent, there is no question of its supremacy there. You could call it a "guitar song for guitarists", because many six string wannabe heroes are going to be analyzing and attempting this for a few years to come, without a doubt.

"Lament" is an oddity because it follows right on "Diablo's" tail and is best described as a "twist on a theme". It sounds pretty much like "Diablo", only with a different time signature stamped to it. The tempo is slower and allows Malmsteen to squeeze some extra seconds of emotion out of each guitar note, favoring substance over flair (although there's plenty of that too). The real gem is the third instrumental and album closer, "Heavy Heart". This harkens back to the days of his sorrowfully sweet songs such as "Cryin'" or "Brothers". A lovely sense of melody, and it is crafted closer to being a real song rather than a technical demonstration. He bubbles away on the fretboard with a sense of contented delight simmering under that overlaying emotion overload. Yngwie is on fire here, you can feel his appreciation for the guitar and his given talents to coax out such an eruption of frothy emotion from its six strings.

Although many would have liked a more thrash approach to the music (to rope in some potential newcomers that follow Ripper's career around), and others looked for an album that was more ambitious or progressive, Yngwie pays no attention to such hopes and pleas, and does what he has always done. He sticks to his guns and makes music to please himself and no one else. If someone else likes it, great, but you can tell that has kept no touch in the ever changing field of rock n metal, in the States or overseas. He proves he's still the same guitarist that did "Rising Force" and keeps on trying to be a Paganini on guitar. For him, it works. With Ripper on board, his message has even more potency, as it seems this voice was meant to match this music.

"Perpetual Flame" is perfectly enjoyable for those that understand that this is music frozen in time from 1985 and just recently thawed out for present day consumption. It's as if they popped out a lost "Marching Out" session from an ice block and then re-recorded the vocals so Ripper could roar over them. Those who are hoping for a radical change, well, you aren't really in the market for a new Malmsteen record then are you?

Written by Alanna
Monday, November 17, 2008
Show all reviews by Alanna

Ratings

Alanna: 7.5/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.

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Comment by VeX (Member) - Monday, November 17, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Alanna your review of this is extremely well written. I'm a huge Tim Owens and Yngwie fan. And I was expecting a more modern day sounding album but this album is as classic Yngwie as you'll ever get. While it's a great album I'm more prone to listen to the classic stuff that's holds memories for me rather than this. I was hoping he'd make an album like "Seventh Sign" or "Magnum Opus" which for Yngwie are very different musically compared to his other works. Posted by VeX Monday, November 17, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Monday, November 17, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 I will only buy this album because of Owens. Never been a fan of Mr. Show off. He is an arrogant clown, and has an attitude that suits an 19 year old teenage star better :0). Nevertheless i can´t deny that he can play a guitar but it´s just too much somehow. I hope Owens will do for me, what the other Malmsteen albums has not done. Posted by gizmo Monday, November 17, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Monday, November 17, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Gizmo, If you're not a fan of Yngwie's music believe me you will not like this album, Owens won't change your perception of this album. Yngwie's always been blessed with top of the line vocalists. But this album sounds exactly like classic Yngwie. Posted by VeX Monday, November 17, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Monday, November 17, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Gizmo, If you're not a fan of Yngwie's music believe me you will not like this album, Owens won't change your perception of this album. Yngwie's always been blessed with top of the line vocalists. But this album sounds exactly like classic Yngwie. Posted by VeX Monday, November 17, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 Thanks for the comments! I agree with Vexx that "Seventh Sign" and "Magnum Opus" hold more memories and thus time has been kinder on it than a brand new release. I would go so far as to say its the best thing he has done since "Magnum Opus". If you never liked Malmsteen before though, "Perpetual" is not going to change your mind. He does nothing different, at all. It's a Malmsteen album through and through. And though I think its endearing that he has kept his rock star, snobbish attitude that he had when he was a teen, others find it annoying. He thinks he's a guitar god and well, I certainly wouldn't tell him otherwise. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 I agree this is the best album since "Seventh Sign" & "Magnum Opus". As for Gizmo if you are really willing to give Yngwie a listen I think you'd like the above mentioned albums. Those 2 albums don't stick to the classic, classical influenced music Yngwie is known for, While at the same time you know it's Yngwie. but I love all Yngwie's music and all the extremely talented vocalists he's played with. Posted by VeX Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Vex you are probably right but I´ll need to hear it anyway because of Owens Posted by gizmo Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Vex I have Odyssey and Seventh sign and one album i can´t remember the title of with him. I don´t recall anything spectacular about Seventh sign but maybe i should give it a spin one of these days. Haven´t heard it for many years. Unfortunately I have just gotten the new Dreamtale album, and that is going to stick around in my cdplayer very long so Malmsteen have to wait a little. Posted by gizmo Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Gizmo I do agree Owens is the man! You still may not like "Seventh Sign" but it's a different direction of Yngwie's usual convention of making songs. I'll have to check out Dreamtale. I'll let you know what I think of it. Posted by VeX Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Gizmo, I just got Dreamtale "Phoenix" and it's really good but not extremely great. While they are very talented something seems to be missing. they have a Sonata Arctica type of feel but I still would rather listen Sonata Arctica. But don't feel as if I'm putting down "Dreamtale" because I'm not) Posted by VeX Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 "Seventh Sign" was my favorite of the two, even though I was quite high on Malmsteen mania when "Magnum Opus" came out. "Seventh Sign" has a better song balance and Vescera's voice is just amazing here. Those that say Yngwie plays with no feeling should check out "Bad Blood", the guitars are just scathingly enraged on that song. Now That's emotion! I also was very partial to "Odyssey". Yes, it was his most commerical but it suited him. Joe Lynn Turner's vocal performance was breathtaking too... one of his better recordings. There were some throwaway tracks but the main meat of the album was truly premium material. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 My sweet Alanna, "Seventh sign" is my all time favorite album of Yngwie's and I do agree he plays with feeling. And I hope Gizmo can get past Yngwie's personality to enjoy his music. Because "Seventh Sign" is a pure gem. Michael Vescera for me is the highlight of the album, He has a Mark Slaughter type of vocal. Have you heard Mike Vescera's new album "A Sign Of Things To Come" if not give it a listen. It has the same type of feeling as "Seventh Sign" & "Magnum Opus" Posted by VeX Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Vex - Yeah maybe. At least I´ll give him another chance ;0) Vescera!? I saw an solo album the other day with him is that worth anything? A sign of things to come I think it was called. I am glad you like the dreamtale album I agree it is close to Sonata arctica but a little better IMO. Even thought SA also is a great band. Posted by gizmo Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Thursday, November 20, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 I definitely think the Vescera solo album is worth it. He's got an incredible voice. First give your "Seventh Sign" a listen if you still don't like it, then you may not like Vescera's solo album. They are very similar in style. You should check out Starbreaker's new album "Loves Dying Wish" it's not only one of my favorite new releases but it's one of my favorites of all time. I listen to it constantly. Tony Harnell (ex-TNT) is the vocalist and he is in top form on this album. The music is modern sounding with a very dark melodic flavor with some progressive feels to the album. Posted by VeX Thursday, November 20, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Nahh :0) I still don´t get Malmsteen. Seventh sign is ok but the songs just don´t stick in my head. Have to say I am never going to be a fan of his, guitar meister og not ;0) Posted by gizmo Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 that's alright you either love Yngwie or you don't. Posted by VeX Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 How about some Yngwie "Odyssey" then? "Dreamin (Tell me)", "Deja Vu", "Crystal Ball", "Hold On", "Heaven Tonight", the cheesyfun "Riot in the Dungeons". Joe Lynn Turner sings on this one and it has a much more radio friendly sound. Try it before you swear off Yngwie once and for all. :D Posted by Alanna (Staff) Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Joe Lynn Turner is maybe the greatest underrated vocalist in my opinion! (Along with Jeff Scott Soto) Posted by VeX Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 I think Gizmo has it ingrained in his mind of how he personally feels towards Yngwie, that he won't ever be able to fully become a fan of his music. But to be honest I met Yngwie in Minneapolis MN. after a concert he played and he was extremely nice, he took the time out to talk with me and sign autographs for me along with some of my friends. Posted by VeX Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 Ah! I LOVE Joe Lynn Turner! For a long while he was my absolute FAVORITE and I still adore him. VERY underrated. Everyone should know who JLT is. He did some commercials for the US market a few years back (I forget what it was, Burger King maybe?) and everytime the commercial would play I would have to point it out and get all excited. People thought I was nuts (then again maybe I was, haha). Have you heard his "Rescue You" solo album? Its a true AOR gem that's a bit under the radar. I always wanted to hear the followup that was never properly released. I KNOW there are copies out there somewhere but have never ran one down. But Sunstorm is another treat that wasn't very high profile (and more recent too). As for YNGWIE. I KNOW he has the tendancy to be arrogant (he believes himself the greatest guitarist ever - or almost ever) and there is reason for that. In the 80s, when he was a teenager or barely out of his teens, he was heralded as this amazing, untouchable player that took the guitar world by storm. The music media proclaimed him a god, and yeah, of course it went straight to his head... but t hat's enough about Malmsteen I suppose. I just see reason for his arrogance, even if it irritates alot of others (you would think he was the ONLY guitar player with an ego attitude problem but that is FAR from the case). Posted by Alanna (Staff) Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Vex - You are probably right ;0) Has Jeff scott Soto song on a Malmsteen album? He is really a great vocalist just listen to his work with Axel Rudi Pell Posted by gizmo Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Thursday, November 27, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Yes Jeff sang on "Rising Force", "Marching Out", "Live 85/EP", "Inspiration". Alanna I remember that commercial, and Sunstorm is a great melodic album, and i used to love "Rescue You" although I haven't heard it in years. Posted by VeX Thursday, November 27, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Thursday, November 27, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 Yes, Jeff was on all those Malmsteen albums. He does have a great voice, and one that suited Yngwie's style. He was the original singer for him, in fact! Jeff had some nice renditions on "Inspirations". I liked his take on "Gates of Babylon", "Burn" and "Carry On My Wayward Son" especially. It's been years since I've listened to it, but used to play it quite frequently when it first came out. Besides Turner, I have problems choosing between Goran Edman and Vescera as my second favorite Malmsteen vocalist. I love Edman in general, but Vescera was a really powerful force on "Seventh Sign" especially. Tough decision to make.. the videos from the Edman era may seal the deal though! :) Posted by Alanna (Staff) Thursday, November 27, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Thursday, November 27, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 "Inspiration" is so good with all the vocalists, my favorite song besides "Carry On My Wayward Son" with Jeff Scott Soto is "Child In Time" with Mark Boals singing at it's one of his finest vocal performances of his amazing career. For all Yngwie vocalists it's hard for me to chose a favorite but my favorite albums are the ones with Mike Vescera singing, I just love those albums and Vescera's vocals are stunning. Goran is truly another one of the greatest underrated vocalists, although I am disappointed in his newest project KARMAKANIC "WHO'S THE BOSS IN THE FACTORY" not a fan of the album for some reason. But his other new release SHADRANE - "TEMPORAL" is stunning. Posted by VeX Thursday, November 27, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Thursday, November 27, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Alanna have you also seen Joe Lynn Turner in the commercial for Domino's Pizza, you can check out out on youtube.com just type in "Triple Loaded" it's for the new triple loaded pizza!(It's Funny) Posted by VeX Thursday, November 27, 2008

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Thursday, November 27, 2008

View Profile Comments: 518 Odyssey is an old favorite of mine. That was how I discovered Yngwie. Lots of great songs on that one . Just happened to stumble upon this dated but funny video for Heaven tonight after I watched the Domino commercial. Great stuff. Posted by Steen (Staff) Thursday, November 27, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Friday, November 28, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 Ah! I did NOT know about the other Goran Edman release. I will have to track that down ASAP. Thanks for the heads up on that. Saw the "Triple Loaded" video, that was pure awesomeness, seeing JLT get any kind of mainstream exposure makes me happy. He certainly deserves it. "Heaven Tonight" has been one of my fav music videos for YEARS. There used to be a mom and pop VHS store in town that had mostly stock from another store that went out of business years before. They had a Malmsteen teaching tape, Live in Leningrad and The Collection. I rented them CONSTANTLY and watched them over and over again til they were burned into my mind. The energy in "Heaven Tonight" is so infectious and Yngwie's raccoon tail just cracks me up (as well as when he sticks the guitar between his legs, phallic suggestion INDEED). They just don't make videos like that anymore. Though there was one from Edguy a few years back that I liked, maybe it was Superheroes. I will have to check youtube again to be sure. "Odyssey" was actually my first Yngwie album too (well, best of and THEN Odyssey). I flocked to it from JLT's Rainbow connection (plus loving "Hold On" from the best of disc).... ! Posted by Alanna (Staff) Friday, November 28, 2008

Comment by VeX (Member) - Friday, November 28, 2008

View Profile Comments: 81 Ratings: 0 Heaven Tonight was one of my favorite videos growing up, I remember they used to play it alot on Headbanger's Ball back in the day. Posted by VeX Friday, November 28, 2008