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Song

No Rest For The Wicked

Artist

Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie Malmsteen backstory

Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck — aka Yngwie Malmsteen — burst onto the scene as a precociously talented teen in the 1970s.

And by 1984 the Swede has bagged a spot in Alcatrazz alongside Graham Bonnet.

That short-lived partnership preceded Malmsteen’s debut solo album Rising Force — the record received a Grammy nomination and peaked at 60 on the Billboard chart.

The six-stringer hit a commercial high with Joe Lynn Turner collab Odyssey as his fourth solo effort sneaked into the UK’s Top 30 and went Top 40 Stateside.

After parting ways with the former Rainbow and Deep Purple frontman, Malmsteen stayed true to his unique style despite the demise of shredding worldwide.

A slew of critically acclaimed albums peppered the 90s and noughties with Japanese audiences, in particular, continuing to drive sales.

2019’s covers album Blue Lightning and Parabellum — the latter a first solo studio album on five years — landed Malmsteen his first Billboard charting records in almost 30 years.

Malmsteen boasts a back catalogue of 22 studio albums and shows no signs of slowing down in his fifth decade at the forefront of classic — or classical — rock.

In Yngwie Malmsteen’s own words

“Playing live in front of people is really what it’s all about.

“It’s exciting and dangerous.

“You have to take risks and there’s no fixing afterwards.”

The verdict on No Rest For The Wicked

A short, sharp blast of Malmsteen at his digit defying best is the perfect taster for Tokyo Live — a celebration of 40 years of Yngwie at his fret-burning best.

Shot up close and personal, a 109-second joy ride for guitar geeks everywhere serves as a timely reminder of the Swede’s insane talent.

And it proves Malmsteen is still at the top of a profession that’s thrown thousands of ill-equipped pretenders his way over the years.

There’s something cathartic about watching a true master of his craft tease something extra out of that trusty Fender that few — if any — have been able to replicate.

Malmsteen might be a Marmite personality and the term ‘flawed genius’ strikes a chord.

But when he lets his guitar do the talking we’re all ears. And always have been.

What’s next for Yngwie Malmsteen

Live In Tokyo is released via Music Theories Recordings on April 25.

Malmsteen’s 40th anniversary tour rolls on in 2025 with a handful of festival dates announced for the US.

More shows are expected to be announced soon.