Facing the Animal

Facing the Animal is the tenth studio album by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1997 through Pony Canyon (Japan) and Mercury Records (United States). The album reached No. 20 on the Finnish albums chart and No. 39 on the Swedish albums chart.^[1]

Facing the Animal
Studio album by Yngwie Malmsteen
Released	September 3rd 1997
Recorded	Studio 308 and Criteria Studios in Miami
Genre	Neoclassical metal, heavy metal
Length	59:33
Label	Pony Canyon
Producer	Yngwie Malmsteen, Chris Tsangarides
Yngwie Malmsteen chronology
Inspiration (1996) Facing the Animal (1997) Double Live (1998)
Alternative cover
United States edition

Although credited to Malmsteen, "Air on a Theme" is an arrangement of the second movement (Largo) of Antonio Vivaldi's "Piccolo Concerto in C Major (RV443)". Facing the Animal features one of drummer Cozy Powell's last performances before his death in April 1998.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Facing the Animal three stars out of five, saying that "much of the record is stronger than anything Malmsteen has recorded in years" but also calling it "predictable, from the rockers to the power ballads".^[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Yngwie Malmsteen.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Braveheart"	5:19
2.	"Facing the Animal"	4:37
3.	"Enemy"	4:53
4.	"Sacrifice"	4:19
5.	"Like an Angel – For April"	5:47
6.	"My Resurrection"	4:48
7.	"Another Time"	5:03
8.	"Heathens from the North"	3:39
9.	"Alone in Paradise"	4:33
10.	"End of My Rope"	4:24
11.	"Only the Strong"	6:05
12.	"Poison in Your Veins"	4:23
13.	"Air on a Theme"	1:43
Total length:		59:33

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Casting Pearls Before the Swine"	3:57

Personnel

• Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar, bass (tracks 1, 4, 6, 12), background vocals, arrangement, production
• Mats Levén – lead vocals (except track 13)
• Mats Olausson – keyboards
• Cozy Powell – drums (except track 13)
• Barry Dunaway – bass (except tracks 1, 4, 6, 12, 13)
• Chris Tsangarides – engineering, mixing, production
• Keith Rose – engineering assistance
• Rod Fuller – mastering

Chart performance

Year	Chart	Position
1998	Finnish albums chart	20[1]
	Swedish albums chart	39[1]

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[3]	Gold	100,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.