[.ca] Magnum Opus

Yngwie Makes His First Real Mistake:
In 1995, Yngwie was a distant memory in the United States. At one time the great master, Malmsteen had been relegated to clean up work as a new breed of guitar player was on the prowl. With the "alternative revolution" underway, Yngwie's flash-style guitar playing had been shown the way of Mussolini, buried by the people that had praised it all those years before, in favor of a new "who cares?" attitude when it came to actual playing ability. The punk aesthetic was back and Yngwie was going to have to relie on the foreign market, his true diehard fanbase, to get him through these lean times. So, in the wake of 1994's stunning THE SEVENTH SIGN, came Yngwie's first really hardcore faux paux....1995's MAGNUM OPUS. Later, Yngwie himself would call the album a poor effort and, while this is true for the most part, there are some saving qualities. Technically Yngwie's best singer, Mike Vescera was back, although the results this time wouldn't be as great. Vescera's vocals seem to hold the album back at times and his performance is uninspired. SEVENTH SIGN touring bassist Barry Sparks was on board in the studio this time as was Yngwie stalwart Mats Olausson on keys and new drummer Shane Gaalass. The band seems to lack the fire of previous efforts and the production of the recording is missing the power of THE SEVENTH SIGN or the smooth polish of ECLIPSE or FIRE AND ICE. Yngwie goes off further into the "let's just burn on the solos" mode of his last record and the whole thing is just awash in mediocrity which is unusual. The opener "Vengence" is probably the best song here, a balls to the wall thrash song taking it's que from "Never Die". Also making the cut is "Voodoo", a haunting track featuring some of the album's creative high points. Here, Vescera is great and these two tracks are the only time the band seems to really gell. The album seems like a quickie and by the end, you feel let down. But all the elements of classic Yngwie do rear their heads...the groove of "No Love Lost", the epic feel of "Tomorrow's Gone", the pop rock of "The Only One", the searing ballad "I'd Die Without You", instrumentals "Overture 1622" and "Amberdawn" (re-named "Dawn" for the re-issue because by then, Yngwie had divorced then wife Amberdawn Landin). "Cross The Line" and "Time Will Tell" are standard fare and by the time of "Fire In The Sky", we're ready to go home. Japanese and Spitfire re-issue bonus track "Cantible" seems to foreshadow Yngwie's guitar concerto, but really, this isn't at all prime time Yngwie Malmsteen. Seeming settled in his groove as 80's guitar icon trying to survive in the 90's Yngwie had seen better days and MAGNUM OPUS was testament to that. With his back against the wall, Yngwie always comes out fighting, and soon, fans would be treated to a fantastic record that would garner much acclaim in Malmsteen fan circles....1996's all cover songs album INSPIRATION.

superb production , this is one of my favorietes!:
MAGNUM OPUS( 95`) AND FACING THE ANIMAL (98`) ARE MY FAVORIETES . facing the animals is heavier than magnum opus but his production is not superb as the production of " magnum opus". malmasteen did 2 albums ( plus- i cant wait ) with michael vescera and thay have a good dvd together " live in the budakan" that most of his songs are from " seventh sign" 94`.the best songs from magnum opus are " vengeance , tomorrows gone, overture 1622 ( instrumental) fire in the sky...". the seventh song voodoo ( voodoo nights ) i heard in the second cd from "inspiration" ( 98) demo song from his past that he recorded again in magnum opus. i prefer magnum opus than eclipes and fire& ice ( those with goran edman). i giving magnum opus 5 stars , but if you are not malmsteens fan dont start with magnum opus , first listen to his first album . tal avraham.

This is one of my favorites:
I don't understand why some fans don't like Magnum Opus. I guess if you want something with the fire of Seventh Sign, you should listen to Seventh Sign. Magnum Opus is not the most boisterous of all Yngwie's albums, and I doubt it was intended to be. The songs on this album have more of a grandiouse feel to them. "Time will tell", "No love lost", "Voodoo", and "I'd die for you" have a great mystical feel that cannot be paralleled by most artists. "Cross the line" and "Fire in the sky" are great rockers. Critics should give this album a chance.

The Best Yngwie Album:
why dont half the people like this album, its soo damn good. the production is superb, unlike most yngwie albums, also the songs on this are great, vengeance has a jaw dropping solo on it and id die without you is an emotional song.

Magnifique:
This is an excellent effort by that infinite genius. Magnum Opus features some fantastic songs like Vangeance, Voodoo and Time will tell. Even an ordinary ballad like I'd die without you is given a sterling edge by the power of Malmsteen's soloing. But the real classic on this album, is the instrumental Amberdawn. This single track one of the saddest and most beautiful tracks I've heard itself justifies the buying of this album.

• Vengeance
• No Love Lost
• Tomorrow's Gone
• Only One
• I'd Die Without You
• Overture 1622
• Voodoo
• Cross the Line
• Time Will Tell
• Fire in the Sky
• Amberdawn