The Seventh Sign (album)
1994 studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Seventh Sign is the seventh studio album by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released on 9 May 1994.[2]
| The Seventh Sign | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 May 1994 | |||
| Recorded | New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |||
| Genre | Neoclassical metal, heavy metal | |||
| Length | 48:31 | |||
| Label | Music for Nations | |||
| Producer | Yngwie Malmsteen | |||
| Yngwie Malmsteen chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 2000 Japanese reissue | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
.jpg) 2003 remastered edition | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
.jpg) 2011 reissue | ||||
| Singles from The Seventh Sign | ||||
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Background
The album is a studio release that came two years after Fire & Ice and was produced with former Loudness vocalist Mike Vescera. The obi strip commentary on the Japanese edition describes it as: "The ultimate classical flavor! Yngwie's greatest masterpiece, finally complete!"
The cover design differs between the Western and Japanese editions. Yngwie has expressed his dislike for the Japanese version, recalling that he was furious upon seeing the triangular shape on the nose, saying, "They drew a triangle on my face."[3] He also faced considerable difficulty selecting a vocalist, reportedly approaching or holding sessions with Don Dokken, Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Steve Perry, Kelly Keeling, and former band members Joe Lynn Turner, Jeff Scott Soto, and Mark Boals.[4]
Reception and legacy
The Seventh Sign reached No. 11 on the Swedish albums chart and No. 47 on the Swiss albums chart, both in 1994.[5] In July 2014, Guitar World magazine placed the album at No. 46 on their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[6]
Steve Huey at AllMusic gave The Seventh Sign three stars out of five, saying that Malmsteen's extensive use of a wah pedal in the style of Jimi Hendrix makes the album "necessary for Malmsteen fans, even though his more neo-classical work (solos, instrumentals, etc.) seems less inspired here." He also heavily criticised the power ballad "Prisoner of Your Love", calling it "downright embarrassing."[2]
Track listing
All music is composed by Yngwie Malmsteen.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Never Die" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 3:29 |
| 2. | "I Don't Know" | Malmsteen, Michael Vescera | Malmsteen | 3:25 |
| 3. | "Meant to Be" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Forever One" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 4:35 |
| 5. | "Hairtrigger" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 2:43 |
| 6. | "Brothers" | (instrumental) | Malmsteen | 3:47 |
| 7. | "Seventh Sign" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 6:31 |
| 8. | "Bad Blood" | Malmsteen, Vescera | Malmsteen | 4:25 |
| 9. | "Prisoner of Your Love" | Amberdawn Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 4:27 |
| 10. | "Pyramid of Cheops" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 5:10 |
| 11. | "Crash and Burn" | Malmsteen, Vescera | Malmsteen | 4:05 |
| 12. | "Sorrow" | (instrumental) | Malmsteen | 2:02 |
| Total length: | 48:31 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Angel in Heat" | Malmsteen | Malmsteen | 4:15 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "In the Distance" | (instrumental) | Malmsteen | 2:47 |
Personnel
- Yngwie Malmsteen – vocals ("Angel in Heat"), guitar, bass, sitar, producer
- Michael Vescera – vocals
- Mats Olausson – keyboard, Hammond organ
- Mike Terrana – drums, triangle
- Jim Thomas – engineering
- Jeff Glixman – engineering
- Mike Fraser – mixing
- Keith Rose – mixing assistance
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 9 May 1994[5] | Music for Nations | |
| Japan | Pony Canyon | ||
| Germany | 2003 | SPV/Steamhammer | Remastered |
| Worldwide | 2011 | Rising Force Records | Reissued (MP3-only) |
Chart performance
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Swedish albums chart | 11[5] |
| Swiss albums chart | 47[5] |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[7] | Platinum | 200,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||