Yngwie Malmsteen - Facing the Animal

Facing the Animal is the tenth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 23 February 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)", whilst "Braveheart" contains a riff from Gary Moore's "Over the Hills and Far Away". 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". Personally, as a Yngwie fan, it's one of my favorites!

1. "Braveheart"
2. "Facing the Animal"
3. "Enemy"
4. "Sacrifice"
5. "Like an Angel – For April"
6. "My Resurrection"
7. "Another Time"
8. "Heathens from the North"
9. "Alone in Paradise"
10. "End of My Rope"
11. "Only the Strong"
12. "Poison in Your Veins"
13. "Air on a Theme"