Description
Japanese double album in thick jewel case
The discography of Yngwie J. Malmsteen is an uneven one, alternating between works that are surprisingly strong and works that almost perfectly lives up to his bad reputation. His 1995 album Magnum Opus is one of the good ones where he abandon the pop hair metal of Seventh Sign and went back to the Neo classical metal he had became famous for in the first place. With Michael Vescera on vocals, Shane Gaalaas on drums, Barry Sparks on bass and the late Mats Olausson on keyboards its obvious that it was one of the bands best and strongest line-ups. The Magnus Opus tour had started in Usa in August of 1995 before the band headed to Japan in September. Malmsteen had one of his biggest and most loyal fans in Japan and the Magnum Opus Japan Tour featured no less than 17 shows, more than many other metal artists have played even during their hights of their career. This album features a show from Hokkai-dou Kousei Nenkin Kaikan Hall in Sapporo, Japan on the 22nd of September 1995. From the moment Malmsteen takes to the smoke filled stage with a blistering guitar solo and rips into the opening track on his new album it is clear that he is a master of his craft. Vengeance is a perfect opening. Its fast and furious and shows that Malmsteen is out for Vengeance after his Seventh Sign failure. Another new track follow and the setlist will feature more new tracks later in the set list, among them the strongly Neo-Classical instrumental Overture 1622. Through the night Malmsteen’s fingers effortlessly navigate the fretboard, delivering intricate melodies, and jaw-dropping solos. Whether he is playing a melodic ballad or a face-melting shred-fest, Malmsteen’s technical prowess is simply unmatched. His movement across the stage, launching guitar picks into the crowd as he goes, was a sight to behold as he fed off the energy of the crowd. Song after song blends into each other effortlessly. With pounding drums throughout and Mats Olausson keyboards overlaying on Yngwie’s mind blowing guitar work and Vescera is providing vocals with passion. Yngwie shines obviously as the star of the show but its testament to the other members that everything else is like clockwork and enables Yngwie to take centre stage and perform to his best. On this 1995 Japan tour we hear the maestro on fire and he seems to be in a very place in life. When it comes to shredding, Yngwie Malmsteen is in a league of his own. His lightning-fast arpeggios and explosive alternate picking demonstrate his virtuosic ability on the guitar and looking back on his work from the early years up to Magnum Opus we can say that Malmsteen was not only an amazing rock but also among the truly great composers in music throughout the eras.
Track list:
1. Vengeance
2. No Love Lost
3. Never Die
4. Cross The Line
5. Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor Adagio in G minor / Far Beyond The Sun
6. I’d Die With You
7. Crash And Burn
8. Keyboard Solo
9. Time Will Tell / Pyramid Of Cheops
10. Overtune 1622 / Trilogy Suite Op / Krakatau
11. Red House-Jimi Hendrix cover
12. Badinerie (Bach’s Suite No. 2 In B Minor)/Bwv 1067
13. Seventh Sign
14. Band Introduction
15. Voo Doo / Bass Solo / Drum Solo / Amberdawn / Brothers
16. The Only One
17. Fire In The Sky
18. Too Young To Die, To Drunk To Live–Alcatrazz
19. Forever One / Aria – Fugue / Black Star
20. I’ll See The Light Tonight