02/05/05

MALMSTEEN, YNGWIE / UNLEASH THE FURY

For some reason the Guitar Hero seems to have almost died out but one exponent of the art is still going strong and still commands great respect, his name Yngwie J. Malmsteen, prepare to dust of your air guitar.

Yngwie has teamed up again with the Scotsman Dougie White, who’s melodic soulful vocal style suits Yngwie’s classical style to a tee, the man himself still plays flawlessly like a demon, with head spinning arpeggio’s, speed driven licks and riffs a plenty, not to mention the dirtiest Strat sound in the world. The reason why Yngwie has survived is probably because of the songs he writes, they are not just vehicles for him to show off, and they are proper classic Metal at its best. There are 18 tracks on offer here and only 4 of them are instrumentals, how restrained is that for a Guitar Hero, all the others are great slabs of Metal, "Revolution. "Winds Of War", "Let The Good Times Roll" and "Cherokee Warrior" (where both Yngwie and Dougie) put off one hell of a performance.

If you though Guitar Heroes were dead, you’re wrong, the one guitar hero that matters is still very much alive and kicking and still "Unleashing The Fury", long may it continue.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 72 misn + 18 TRACKS + 2 CD ROMS