Yngwie Malmsteen
London Shepherd’s Bush Empire
11th July, 2008

The Swedish guitar god and his quartet led by ex-Judas Priest’s Tim Owens hit the stage at eight and proceeded to run through 100 minutes of baroque metal classics. Celebrating 25 years of his debut opus, after a storming opener of Rising Force (lasers, dry ice, Yngwie spinning his Strat about his neck), we got new track Rise Up, then a solo taking in Black Star (and teeth). I Am A Viking (with Ripper screaming) and a sweet acoustic Dreaming followed. Rainbow’s Gates Of Babylon led into a thundering Demon Driver, solo Trilogy, and Uli Jon Roth’s Cherokee Warrior. More Yngwie spotlighting included elements of Concerto, before You Don’t Remember and encores including I’ll See The Light Tonight, with Yngwie smashing his Strat into the audience. But the biggest cheer came when a mystery guest was wheeled on – literally – Yngwie introducing: “Jim Marshall”. As in amps. Electrifying!