Facing the Animal

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Facing the Animal
Yngwie Malmsteen - 1997 - Facing the Animal.jpg
Studio album by
Released1997
RecordedStudio 308 and Criteria Studios in Miami
Genre Neoclassical metal, heavy metal
Length59:33
Label Pony Canyon
Producer Yngwie Malmsteen, Chris Tsangarides
Yngwie Malmsteen chronology
Inspiration
(1996)
Facing the Animal
(1997)
Double Live
(1998)
Alternative cover
Malmsteen-facing.jpg
United States edition

Facing the Animal is the tenth studio album by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1997 through Pony Canyon (Japan) and Mercury Records (United States). The album reached No. 20 on the Finnish albums chart and No. 39 on the Swedish albums chart. [1]

Contents

Although credited to Malmsteen, "Air on a Theme" is an arrangement of the second movement (Largo) of Antonio Vivaldi's "Piccolo Concerto in C Major (RV443)". Facing the Animal features one of drummer Cozy Powell's last performances before his death in April 1998.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Facing the Animal three stars out of five, saying that "much of the record is stronger than anything Malmsteen has recorded in years" but also calling it "predictable, from the rockers to the power ballads". [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Yngwie Malmsteen

No.TitleLength
1."Braveheart"5:19
2."Facing the Animal"4:37
3."Enemy"4:53
4."Sacrifice"4:19
5."Like an Angel – For April"5:47
6."My Resurrection"4:48
7."Another Time"5:03
8."Heathens from the North"3:39
9."Alone in Paradise"4:33
10."End of My Rope"4:24
11."Only the Strong"6:05
12."Poison in Your Veins"4:23
13."Air on a Theme"1:43
Total length:59:33
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
14."Casting Pearls Before the Swine"3:57

Personnel

Chart performance

YearChartPosition
1998 Finnish albums chart 20 [1]
Swedish albums chart 39 [1]

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [3] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Facing the Animal (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Facing the Animal – Yngwie Malmsteen". AllMusic . All Media Network. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. "Japanese album certifications – Yngwie Malmsteen – Facing the Animal" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 1997年9月 on the drop-down menu