YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN — The Seventh Sign (review)

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN — The Seventh Sign album cover Album · 1994 · Neoclassical metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"The Seventh Sign" is the 7th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal/power metal artist Yngwie J. Malmsteen. The album was released through Pony Canyon in May 1994. After releasing what is arguably one of his weakest albums in "Fire and Ice (1992)", Yngwie was in a situation where he had to prove himself again and he certainly delivers a bounce back album with "The Seventh Sign".

...not all is perfect on "The Seventh Sign", but the album features some of Yngwie J. Malmsteen´s most kickass material in the opening power metal "fist in your face" type track "Never Die", the beautiful neo-classical (with a slight springle of the blues) instrumental "Brothers" and the epic power metal title track. The bluesy, hard rocking and funky "I Don´t Know", which reminds me quite a lot of Extreme (the band), is also a nice surprise. The album ends on a high note with the brick heavy "Pyramid of Cheops", the neo-classical themed power metal track "Crash and Burn" and the short and beautiful instrumental "Sorrow". The rest of the material is a bit up and down in quality (with the lowpoint being the saccarine power ballad "Prisoner of Your Love") but the brilliant musicianship, strong vocals by Michael Vescera and a powerful, clean sound production make "The Seventh Sign" an overall very enjoyable listening experience. Even the least memorable or least interesting tracks feature guitar licks and amazing solo work by Yngwie that save the day.

Everyone knows that Yngwie is one of the fastest guitar players, or maybe even THE fastest guitar player, in the world, but not all mention how much feeling he actually puts into the notes he plays. As a child, before venturing into the world of neo-classical heavy metal/power metal, Yngwie played the blues, and it´s audible. His love for Paganini is also very obvious with the high pitched notes that follow fast shredding runs and the combination of his different influences works like a charm when he plays solos (listening to the solo in "Never Die" is a jaw-dropping experience every time). It´s too bad that the core of his music sometimes comes off as a generic Rainbow/Deep Purple clone, but no one should take away from him how talented he is when playing a guitar.

It´s not all Yngwie J. Malmsteen´s albums that I would call worthy purchases but "The Seventh Sign" is definitely one of his better albums and certainly worth a purchase. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

I, the Destroyer Black Metal
SVARTFJELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed