Rising Force

{{For|the Star Wars novel|The Rising Force}} {{Infobox album | name = Rising Force | type = studio | artist = Yngwie Malmsteen | cover = YngwieJMalmsteen-RisingForce.jpg | released = {{start date|1984}} | recorded = | studio = Record Plant, Los Angeles | genre = {{hlist|Neoclassical metal|heavy metal}} | length = 39:33 | label = Polydor | producer = Yngwie Malmsteen | next_title = Marching Out | next_year = 1985 }}

'''''Rising Force''''' is the first studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in late 1984 through Polydor Records.<ref name=finnishcharts>[http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yngwie+J.+Malmsteen%27s+Rising+Force&titel=Rising+Force&cat=a "Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Rising Force (album)"]. ''finnishcharts.com''. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jeffscottsoto.com/home/page14/page14.html|title=JSS Biography}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathguitarschool.com/yngwie-malmsteen-jettojet-solo-alcatrazz/|title = Yngwie Malmsteen's Solo in "Jet to Jet" by Alcatrazz|date = August 2020}}</ref> This was originally planned as an instrumental side-project of his then-current band Alcatrazz, but due to singer Jeff Scott Soto's appearance on the album, Malmsteen opted to release it as a solo album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gazettereview.com/2016/10/happened-yngwie-malmsteen/|title=What Happened to Yngwie Malmsteen- News & Updates|date=26 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citybeat.com/music/sound-advice-yngwie-j-malmsteens-rising-force-with-the-raskins-crooked-rook-and-80-proof-may-20-12221066|title=Sound Advice: Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force with the Raskins, Crooked Rook and 80 Proof (May 20)}}</ref> It reached No. 14 on the Swedish albums chart<ref name=finnishcharts/> and No. 60 on the US ''Billboard'' 200,<ref name=allmusicawards>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000190881/awards "Rising Force - Yngwie Malmsteen | Awards"]. ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref> and received a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1986 Grammy Awards.<ref name=grammy>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1986/grammys.htm "28th Grammy Awards - 1986"]. Rock On The Net. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref> The album is regarded as a landmark release in the shred and neoclassical metal genres.<ref>Huey, Steve. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/yngwie-malmsteen-mn0000689367/biography "Yngwie Malmsteen | Biography"]. ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 24 December 2014.</ref><ref name=allmusic>Huey, Steve. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/rising-force-mw0000190881 "Rising Force - Yngwie Malmsteen"]. ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref><ref name=guitarworld>''Guitar World'' Staff (9 July 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110528005153/http://www.guitarworld.com/top_10_shred_albums "Top 10 Shred Albums of All Time"]. ''Guitar World''. Future US. Archived from [http://www.guitarworld.com/top_10_shred_albums the original] on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref>

==Background== The legato guitar playing on this album, reminiscent of a violin, and the high-level crossover between classical music and heavy metal had a significant influence on both the rock and guitar scenes, giving rise to a new genre known as "neoclassical metal" and inspiring many followers. Although the album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, it did not win; however, it received numerous accolades, including Best New Artist and Best Album in reader polls and other magazine awards. In 2013, ''Guitar World'' magazine in the United States ranked it first in their "Top 10 Classic Shred Albums."

The track "Far Beyond the Sun" from the album was used almost unchanged in the soundtrack of the game ''Ys IV'' by Nihon Falcom, under the title "A Great Ordeal."

Following this release, Yngwie focused on albums featuring vocals, and his next instrumental album did not appear until ''Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E-flat minor, Op. 1'' (1998).

The title ''Rising Force'' refers to the band Yngwie formed during his amateur years. From this album onward, he frequently released music under the name Rising Force.

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=allmusic/> | rev2 =''Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal'' | rev2score = 5/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | authorlink1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = November 1, 2005 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | isbn = 978-1-894959-31-5 |page=208}}</ref> }}

Steve Huey at AllMusic gave ''Rising Force'' four stars out of five, calling it "a revelation upon its release" and "The true inauguration of the age of the guitar shredder." He praised Malmsteen's technique and "blinding virtuosity", as well as highlighting his "obsessions with Bach, Beethoven, and Paganini".<ref name=allmusic/>

In a 2009 article by ''Guitar World'' magazine, ''Rising Force'' was ranked first in the all-time top ten list of shred albums. The staff wrote: "Yngwie J. Malmsteen was, is, and always will be the greatest shredder of all time. Hell, he invented the genre with his 1985 {{sic}} debut."<ref name=guitarworld/>

"Black Star" and "Far Beyond the Sun" have endured as two of Malmsteen's most popular songs, as well as being staples of his live setlist. In a 2008 ''Guitar World'' interview, Malmsteen said of the two songs: "I'll probably play 'Far Beyond the Sun' and 'Black Star' until the day I die."<ref>Lalaina, Joe (17 November 2008). [http://www.guitarworld.com/yngwie_j_malmsteen_king039s_diamonds?page=0%252C1 "Yngwie J. Malmsteen: King's Diamonds"]. ''Guitar World''. NewBay Media. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Yngwie Malmsteen | title1 = Black Star | length1 = 4:53 | title2 = Far Beyond the Sun | length2 = 5:52 | title3 = Now Your Ships Are Burned | length3 = 4:11 | title4 = Evil Eye | note4 = based on Johann Krieger's "Bourree" | length4 = 5:14 | title5 = Icarus' Dream Suite Op. 4 | note5 = based on Adagio in G minor | length5 = 8:33 | title6 = As Above, So Below | length6 = 4:39 | title7 = Little Savage | length7 = 5:22 | title8 = Farewell | length8 = 0:49 | total_length = 39:33 }}

==Personnel== *Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar, Moog Taurus, bass, arrangement, producer *Jeff Scott Soto – vocals on tracks 3 & 6 *Jens Johansson – keyboard, harpsichord arrangement (track 7) *Barriemore Barlow – drums *Lester Claypool – engineering *Peter Vargo – engineering

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! Chart (1985) ! Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="jpn">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref> | align="center"| 19 |- {{Album chart|Sweden|14|artist=Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force|album= Rising Force|rowheader=true|access-date=22 August 2022}} |- {{Album chart|Billboard200|60|artist=Yngwie Malmsteen|rowheader=true|access-date=October 30, 2023}} |}

==Awards== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Event !! Award !! Result |- |1986 Grammys |Best Rock Instrumental Performance |align="center"|Nominated<ref name=grammy/> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140104112941/http://www.yngwiemalmsteen.com/yngwie/discography/albums/cd_rising-force/ Rising Force] at yngwiemalmsteen.com *[http://www.guitar9.com/risingforce.html In Review: Yngwie J. Malmsteen "Rising Force"] at Guitar Nine Records

Category:Yngwie Malmsteen albums Category:1984 debut albums Category:Polydor Records albums Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance