Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force Turns 41: Why It Still Matters

A nineteen year old singer, a guitarist who barely wanted him there, and a record that split guitar playing into two schools for the rest of the decade. This week our 90s specialist Jeremy Amend crosses into 80s metal for his first time, bringing us Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force, the 1984 debut that crystallized neoclassical shred into an actual genre. We dig into the mystery of the "J" in his name, Jeff Scott Soto's wild resume, why this album opened the door for Shrapnel Records and guys like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, and whether the two vocal tracks help or hurt the record. If you love Deep Purple, early Van Halen, or neoclassical metal, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

00:02: Jeremy's first 80s pick after years of 90s deep cuts

04:11: The real story behind Yngwie's name change

30:14: Is this the first neoclassical solo guitar album in rock history

35:38: What doesn't work on the record

52:15: Final ratings and poll results

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