Facing the Animal

Last updated
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 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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yngwie Malmsteen</span> Swedish guitarist (born 1963)

Yngwie Johan Malmsteen ; born 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal, and has released 22 studio albums in a career spanning over 40 years. In August 2009, Time magazine named Malmsteen No. 9 on its list of the 10 best electric guitar players of all-time.

<i>Down to Earth</i> (Rainbow album) 1979 studio album by Rainbow

Down to Earth is the fourth studio album by the British hard rock band Rainbow. It is their last album to feature drummer Cozy Powell and their only album with vocalist Graham Bonnet. Released in 1979, it contains Rainbow's first hit single "Since You Been Gone", marking a more commercial direction of the band's sound.

<i>Odyssey</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1988 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Odyssey is the fourth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 8 April 1988 through Polydor Records. The album reached No. 40 on the US Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for eighteen weeks, as well as reaching the top 50 in five other countries. As of 2021 it remains Malmsteen's highest-charting release on the Billboard 200.

<i>Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad</i> 1989 live album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad is the first live album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, recorded over several dates in February 1989 in Saint Petersburg, and released on 12 October 1989 through Polydor Records. The album reached #31 on the Swedish albums chart and #128 on the Billboard 200. A VHS video of the concert was released on 11 July 1991 through PolyGram, and a DVD edition was reissued in Japan on 12 December 2006 through Universal Music.

<i>Rising Force</i> 1984 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Rising Force is the first studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in late 1984 through Polydor Records. This was originally planned as an instrumental side-project of his then-current band Alcatrazz, but due to singer Jeff Scott Soto's appearance on the album, Malmsteen opted to release it as a solo album. It reached No. 14 on the Swedish albums chart and No. 60 on the US Billboard 200, and received a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1986 Grammy Awards. The album is regarded as a landmark release in the shred and neoclassical metal genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cozy Powell</span> British rock drummer (1947–1998)

Cozy Powell was an English drummer who made his name with major rock bands and artists such as The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Gary Moore, Graham Bonnet, Brian May, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake & Powell, and Black Sabbath.

<i>Eclipse</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1990 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Eclipse is the fifth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1990 through Polydor Records. The album reached No. 112 on the US Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for six weeks, as well as reaching the top 50 in six other countries.

<i>Inspiration</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1996 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Inspiration is the ninth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 14 October 1996. It is a tribute album consisting entirely of covers of various bands who influenced Malmsteen. Featured on vocals are Jeff Scott Soto, Mark Boals and Joe Lynn Turner, all of whom performed on Malmsteen's first four studio albums.

<i>Trilogy</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1986 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Trilogy is the third studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in October 1986 through Polydor Records. The album reached No. 44 on the US Billboard 200 and charted within the top 60 in the Netherlands and Sweden. In the liner notes, Malmsteen dedicates the album to the memory of the late Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, who was assassinated on 28 February 1986.

<i>Alchemy</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1999 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Alchemy is the twelfth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 17 September 1999 through Pony Canyon (Japan), and through Dream Catcher (Europe) and Spitfire Records on 23 November 1999.

<i>Fire & Ice</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1992 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Fire & Ice is the sixth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 7 February 1992 through Elektra Records. The album topped the Japanese albums chart, reached No. 121 on the US Billboard 200 and charted within the top 90 in the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

<i>Marching Out</i> 1985 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Marching Out is the second studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 19 August 1985 through Polydor Records. The album reached No. 52 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for 28 weeks, as well as reaching the top 30 in two other countries.

<i>Magnum Opus</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1995 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Magnum Opus is the eighth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 17 October 1995. The album reached No. 11 and 17 on the Finnish and Swedish albums chart respectively.

<i>Attack!!</i> 2002 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Attack!! is the fourteenth studio album by the Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 15 October 2002 through Steamhammer records. The album is the first to feature singer Doogie White on lead vocals, along with keyboardist Derek Sherinian.

<i>Finyl Vinyl</i> 1986 live album by Rainbow

Finyl Vinyl is a live album by the British hard rock band Rainbow and was released in 1986, after the band had already disbanded in 1984. It includes live recordings spanning 1978 to 1984, along with three studio B-sides.

<i>The Seventh Sign</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

The Seventh Sign is the seventh studio album by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 9 May 1994.

<i>Unleash the Fury</i> 2005 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Unleash the Fury is the fifteenth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 26 July 2005 through Spitfire Records. Included on the album—which is an Enhanced CD—are three videos in QuickTime format. The album's title is a reference to an incident which occurred in 1988 on a flight to Tokyo during the Odyssey tour: having behaved obnoxiously whilst drunk, Malmsteen fell asleep and was later awoken by a woman pouring a jug of iced water on him. Enraged, he twice shouted "You've released the fucking fury!". The audio from this incident was caught on tape by drummer Anders Johansson, with bassist Barry Dunaway also being heard in the background.

<i>Live!!</i> (Yngwie Malmsteen album) 1998 live album by Yngwie Malmsteen

Live!! is a live album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1998 through Dreamcatcher Records; it was reissued in 2000 as Double Live in the United States through Spitfire Records. The album was recorded live in Brazil on 5–6 May 1998 at the Olympia in São Paulo, and on 7 May 1998 at the Metropolitan in Rio de Janeiro. According to singer Mats Leven, most of the recordings originate from the second night in São Paulo.

<i>Another World</i> (Brian May album) 1998 studio album by Brian May

Another World is the second solo album by Queen guitarist Brian May, released on 1 June 1998 by Parlophone Records in the UK, and on 15 September 1998 by Hollywood Records in the US. May dedicated it to his mother. The song "Business" was the theme song of the first season of the comedy-drama series Frank Stubbs Promotes, and the track "On My Way Up" was used for its second season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Facing the Animal (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Facing the Animal - Yngwie Malmsteen". AllMusic . All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  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