Concerto Suite Live with Japan Philharmonic

Few rock artists seem as custom-made for the "orchestral treatment" as classical metal buff Yngwie Malmsteen, and that's just what occurred with his 2002 release, Concerto Suite Live with Japan Philharmonic. Although not his first guitar-meets-orchestra release (1998's Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor Op. 1 preceded it), the latter album turns out to be a much more fully realized affair, as there has been speculation that Malmsteen had to overdub some solos on the first release -- instead of playing it all live as he does here. As evidenced by such tracks as "Trilogy Suite Op. 5, the First Movement," Malmsteen's playing is as over the top as ever, as his rapid-fire soloing does heroic battle with an orchestral accompaniment. Despite hard rock bands like Metallica and Kiss having also utilized the same setup on similarly styled releases, Malmsteen's music is better suited for an orchestra, as proven by Concerto Suite Live with Japan Philharmonic. Whether it's for better or for worse, that's another story.