Rising Force  by Yngwie Malmsteen

In 1984, Yngwie Malmsteen unleashed Rising Force, an album that changed the course of electric guitar. With a neoclassical metal style, the album married the intensity of heavy rock with the discipline of Bach and Paganini, creating a barrage of “carved” solos and baroque harmonies.

The album is mainly instrumental, with iconic tracks such as the imposing Black Star and the stormy Far Beyond The Sun, which remain two of the most emblematic pieces of the Swedish virtuoso to this day. In the few vocal parts, such as Now Your Ships Are Burned, Jeff Scott Soto's great performance stands out, while the drums are dominated by the sturdy Barriemore Barlow (formerly of Jethro Tull).

The distinctive element of Rising Force was the absolute technical perfection that did not sacrifice emotion; Yngwie made the guitar "speak" with a speed that seemed otherworldly for the time. Despite its specialized character, the album reached the Top 60 of the Billboard and received a Grammy nomination. Malmsteen's debut reached No.14 in his homeland. Its significance is unquestionable and immense: it gave rise to an entire school of musicians and established Malmsteen as the ultimate "Guitar Hero" of the '80s.