Relentless

Relentless is a record on which Yngwie Malmsteen puts neoclassical melody, dizzying speed playing and weighty riffs to the front. Baroque phrasing and metal aggression cross, and the guitar strongly pulls the story of the whole song. From the flow out of the “Overture” and the drive of “Critical Mass” to the push of the title track “Relentless” and the drama of “Enemy Within,” the songs unite aggression and beauty of form, while the scale of “Into Valhalla” and the classical lyricism of “Adagio” add pacing and depth. It is a record that rewards following not only the overwhelming technique but the tension and release created by classical motifs. Within the run of fast phrasing, harmonic shading and dramatic development are firmly built in. Showing Yngwie’s unchanging style again in a powerful sonic picture, it is a fulfilling record — a dense guitar-metal work that unites the flash of speed and construction at a high level.