Marching Out

Marching Out is the second album on which Yngwie Malmsteen bound classical harmony and fast phrasing to a more aggressive heavy metal. Stepping beyond the debut’s instrumental bent, it greatly increases the number of vocal songs, strongly pushing forward the drive of a band. Jeff Scott Soto’s powerful singing and the Johansson brothers’ playing make the guitar’s technique work as drama rather than mere showcase. The lift of “I’ll See the Light, Tonight,” the valor of “I Am a Viking” and the aggression of “Disciples of Hell” show a strength of melody and construction that is not speed alone. The guitar remains the lead, but with vocals and rhythm section added, the songs become richer in dynamics. It is an ambitious work that retempered the neoclassical style within a band sound. Taking in the impact of the debut while stepping toward music that holds up as songs, it stands as an important early record.