Parabellum

Parabellum is the 21st album on which Yngwie Malmsteen expands the neoclassical-metal idiom into an even denser guitar orchestra. Fast arpeggios, Baroque chord progressions and melodies suggesting classical quotation follow in sequence, and the guitar serves as riff, lead melody and accompaniment all at once. From the aggression of the opener “Wolves at the Door” and the classical technique of “Presto Vivace in C# minor” and “Toccata” to the speed of “Relentless Fury” and the title-bearing “(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum,” the songs change color greatly while centering on instrumentals, and a quiet miniature like “Sea of Tranquility” gives the album pacing. Beyond sheer speed, acoustic pauses and weighty mid-tempos are woven in, keeping monotony at bay. Even deep into his career, a stance of thoroughly pursuing his own style runs throughout. With technique and beauty of form pushed fully to the front, it is a record to immerse deeply in Yngwie’s world — a fulfilling recent work that concentrates the essence of his guitar.