Yngwie said about Mats Leven-the Swedish vocalist on this album-that he can sing anything,from ballads('Like An Angel'-great track!)to Brian Johnson.But what is really notable about this record,besides Malmsteen's exceptional playing,is the amazing drumming of the late Cozy Powell whom Yngwie called'my mentor':there are lessons in drumming here,while Malmsteen's previous albums suffered somewhat from a lack of good drummers(I have in mind 1988's'Odyssey'where the great songs lose due to bad drumming).Here Malmsteen's fiery playing is tempered by overall melody and song structure,creating a very satisfactory and long overdue(in his case)balance.A great album,highly recommended!

Yet another Yngwie album ... I cannot say anything bad about it, but I don't like it either.

Some 12 years ago, Yngwie was my entrance to the neoclassical metal universe. But as much as I loved (and still apprecciate) his amazing and unique guitar playing style, I missed innovative song writing (which I hoped would emerge as it does with many exceptional artists as they grow older and more experienced).

Many reviewers claim that there are few other artists like Yngwie. To those I would like to recommend Tony MacAlpine, Rhapsody, Royal Hunt, Symphony X, Dream Theater (Inner Turbulence Disc 2 and Scenes From A Memory), to name but a few. Each of these artists uses neoclassical elements in a different way. But they all - instead of Yngwie - try to make it sound unique, whereas Yngwie seems to try to create 100% classical songs (or also folklore in case of acoustic guitar parts).

Another point is the poor production quality of most Yngwie albums. I mean, I'm sure he could do better if he wanted to. But we all know that he is very convinced of himself and only does what he thinks is best.

The conclusion: Real Yngwie fans will love this album, because it's what they can expect. Other metal fans that want to get a first impression of neoclassical metal should try the various other artists I mentioned as well as the legendary Yngwie albums like "Rising Force". Although it is rare, I also recommend "Trial by Fire", an early live recording from Leningrad.

Facing The Animal is arguably Yngwie's best album since Rising Force. The vast majority of the songs are very good. FTA clearly has the best songwriting since Eclipse, and more good songs than Eclipse. Mats Leven is also the best singer Yngwie has had since Goran Edman.

The best songs on the CD are Another Time, Only The Strong, and Enemy. What is great about this music is that Yngwie is being true to his core musical values while providing songs that just about anyone can appreciate.

Don't hesitate, buy Facing The Animal now!!!

Ok...so MAGNUM OPUS and INSPIRATION were a little weak. With 1998's FACING THE ANIMAL, Yngwie had crafted great hard rock songs and snubbed his nose to the grunge and alt-metal movements from which his career had never fully recovered. Nobody ever said Yngwie couldn't play guitar, and all of his trademarks are on display here as on all of his other releases. Backed by long time keyboardist Mats Olausson, ODYSSEY touring bassist Barry Dunaway, drum legend Cozy Powell (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio) in one of his final studio recordings before his death in an automobile accident on April 5, 1998, and Mats Leven on vocals, this was Yngwie's best effort since THE SEVENTH SIGN in 1994 largely due to the strength of the songwriting. Mats Leven's vocals are strong and powerful, but his voice seems to get tiring on the ears after awhile. Tracks like "Braveheart", "Sacrafice", "Heathens From The North", "End Of My Rope", "Poison In Your Veins" and the chugging title track stand out, but it's the blistering concert opener "My Resurrection" that makes the biggest impact here. The ballad "Like An Angel" is a sappy, yuck fest that should have been left off, and "Air On A Theme" does nothing to enhance the disc...it's short and rather forgetful. "Another Time" does well as a sum up for this album...hook filled hard rock with big choruses and Yngwie's neo-classical sheen applied in liberal doses. The album does have it's moments and the solo in "My Resurrection" is classic Yngwie. Long time fans were happy to see the guitarist return with a stronger effort and most liked Leven's vocal stylings. It seemed Yngwie was moving back to a heavier direction like in his classic days. This album does have some pop metal hooks and choruses, but it was a harbinger of things to come as Yngwie would return (somewhat) to his vintage metal roots and leave behind the pop excesses on the fan favorite ALCHEMY and his subsequent releases.

Yngwie never disappoints his fans whether they're musicians or not. He proves he's still the king of arpeggios and sweeps. He hasn't lost a step due to that nagging tendonitous either. The songs are some of the strongest to date. The title cut is just killer from start to finish. "Enemy" is probably my favorite tune as it goes melodically some places Yngwie hasn't gone before. This is a "must-have" for any true Yngwie Malmsteen fan. It's great to hear an artist who refuses to compromise his roots or to go off the deep end for whatever the trend happens to be. Besides, metal fans are loyal because the artists they listen to are so loyal to them. Audiences and fans like to hear their artists expand musically, but we also count on our favorites not to dissappoint our expectations. Yngwie never dissapoints his fans. He never sacrifices his talents. Buy this album and you'll see exactly what I mean. Yngwie RULES!!!