Yngwie Johann Malmsteen - Concerto Suite for Guitar and orchestra in e flat minor with the New Japan PhilharmonicThis is a blazing hot guitar exercise for the Swedish guitar phenomenon. He performed a concert in 2001 with a full orchestra and it translates well into rock as the performance is extremely powerful. It had been released in Europe earlier and is just getting its North American debut now. Malmsteen is a six-string virtuoso and this is displayed with no greater clarity than this show. The material cannot hide behind the bombastic trappings of a rock band. Malmsteen is the only electric instrument here and he commands your attention.
There are seventeen cuts here, nicely rounded out by the orchestra which have their moments to shine. However, Malmsteen is the reason people are in the audience. He blazes through songs from his whole career and he doesn't disappoint. His notes blur into twenty and you're almost glad to have witnessed the affair to see that he really can play that fast. Also included is commentary from Yngwie about the concert as well as a bonus audio cut, "Evil Eye."
