This was solo album number two for Yngwie, when he still believed in having a vocalist in the band. The vocalist in question here is Jeff Scott Soto, who after his dismissal from Yngwie’s tribe would set up Talisman with his band mate here, the amazing bassist Marcel Jacob and go on to have a great career.
There is no doubt that Yngwie is an incredible player with jaw dropping technique, but sometimes he seems to just be playing for himself and not the song. Case in point is Disciples Of Hell, which is a great song don’t get me wrong, but the solo is so fast it’s ahead of the groove of the song. The influence of early Rainbow is all over this record whether it be the groove of the music or Jeff’s vocals, you can’t escape it. I Am Viking is my favourite track it has all the Rainbowisms you could hope for with Yngwie playing his best solo.
I am a guitar nut so I love all the over the top widdlly dee histrionics, but I do admit it does affect the songs sometime. This actually came out in ‘85 which makes me feel old as I remember buying it the week of release.
8/10 from The Grooveman.
