Yngwie Malmsteen "Facing The Animal (Japan, Pony Canyon, PCCY-01154)"

Facing the Animal is the tenth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1997 through Pony Canyon (Japan) and Mercury Records (United States). The album reached No. 20 on the Finnish albums chart and No. 39 on the Swedish albums chart.

Although credited to Malmsteen, "Air on a Theme" is an arrangement of the second movement (Largo) of Antonio Vivaldi's "Piccolo Concerto in C Major (RV443)". Facing the Animal features one of drummer Cozy Powell's last performances before his death in April 1998.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Facing the Animal three stars out of five, saying that "much of the record is stronger than anything Malmsteen has recorded in years" but also calling it "predictable, from the rockers to the power ballads".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Yngwie Malmsteen

1. "Braveheart" 5:19
2. "Facing the Animal" 4:37
3. "Enemy" 4:53
4. "Sacrifice" 4:19
5. "Like an Angel – For April" 5:47
6. "My Resurrection" 4:48
7. "Another Time" 5:03
8. "Heathens from the North" 3:39
9. "Alone in Paradise" 4:33
10. "End of My Rope" 4:24
11. "Only the Strong" 6:05
12. "Poison in Your Veins" 4:23
13. "Air on a Theme" 1:43

Total length: 59:33

Japanese edition bonus track

1. "Casting Pearls Before the Swine" 3:57

Recording information:

Recorded at Studio 308 and Criteria Studios, Miami, FL.

Mixed at Criteria Studios, Miami, FL.

Mastered at Fuller Sound, Miami, FL.

Chris Tsangarides – engineering, mixing, production

Keith Rose – engineering assistance

Rod Fuller – mastering