Eclipse (Eclipse - Yngwie Malmsteen)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Eclipse - Yngwie Malmsteen
Date:	31/12/08 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Surprisingly non-indulgent.

Disadvantages: Surprisingly commercial and lacking in theatrics.

Viewed in one way as Yngwie Malmsteen's first true solo album - and in another, ultimately more correct way, not - 1990's 'Eclipse' sees the tortured guitar genius finally abandoned by his old Rising Force comrades and teaming up with a bunch of new musicians and a singer, whose mediocrity would be assumed to increase Malmsteen's own virtuosity, were he putting in any real degree of effort.

I'm not particularly a fan of so-called 'shred' acts, as being the most technically proficient guitarist in the world doesn't necessarily mean you have any creative talent (Michael Angelo Batio's work in the awful eighties glam band Nitro is almost too perfect an example of this). Nevertheless, it is interesting to see the limits of a genre of instrument pushed, and I was curious to check Malmsteen out. I can only hope that this isn't a fair representation of his work.

The primary lasting impression is, where the hell are the guitar theatrics? There are a couple of impressive solos here and there, but nothing you wouldn't find on any heavy metal album of the eighties. It's clear that this album (I can't vouch for his others, which I haven't heard) is targeted primarily at the musical mainstream, especially in the airy vocals and over-saturation of shiny keyboards. Malmsteen's only real chance to shine himself is in the instrumental title track at the end, and even that isn't anything too special.

Overall, this isn't that bad, and is probably quite good as commercial glam metal albums go, but it wasn't what I was expecting from the axeman.

Summary: Yngwie Malmsteen's fifth album (1990).