Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out
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On August 19, 1985, Yngwie Malmsteen released his second album - “Marching Out”.
As the album title hints ("Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force"), in this album Yngwie decided to move from a solo virtuoso into something that felt like a full band effort.
After the instrumental fireworks of “Rising Force”, which stunned the metal world a year earlier, Yngwie moved quickly to record a follow-up. But this time, the atmosphere was different. Jeff Scott Soto, who had sung only two tracks on the debut, now became a central voice—literally and figuratively. He co-wrote four songs and sang on eight of them, giving the record a far more collaborative, band-oriented identity. Alongside him stood Jens Johansson on keyboards, his brother Anders Johansson on drums, and bassist Marcel Jacob, whose entry into the fold would spark a lifelong creative bond with Soto (Soto and Jacob would go on to form "Talisman", and side projects like "Human Clay" and "Humanimal".
Still, as much as it looked like a band project, it was always Yngwie’s empire. “Marching Out” was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and Skyline Studios in Topanga, California, with Yngwie himself handling production.
The album begins with “Prelude”, a brief instrumental that sets the stage before the explosion of “I’ll See the Light, Tonight”—one of Yngwie’s most iconic songs with a frequent presence on his live setlist. Its opening riff, Anders’s thunderous drums, and Soto’s piercing scream combine into a dramatic statement. The chemistry between Soto and Malmsteen is undeniable, their co-writing producing a track that balances virtuosic guitar with ferocious vocals. On 1:15 Min. Yngwie shows his phenomenal skills with a 1 min solo starting as neo-classic developing into full metal shredder.
“Don’t Let It End” contrasts with a delicate acoustic intro and falsetto vocals before swelling into an atmospheric Hard Rocker. Yngwie is relatively subdued in his playing, leaving more room for Soto to show his vocal dynamics.
“Disciples of Hell” is one of the best songs on the album. It starts with a clasic-acoustic 1 minute guitar intro before it shifts gears into a darker territory, with Soto adopting a deeper timbre as Malmsteen unleash his classical-metal fury.
Perhaps the most memorable anthem in the album is “I Am a Viking”. a slower, darker march that leans into myth and fantasy. Soto’s commanding growl and Yngwie’s perfectly placed solo elevate it into one of the album’s classics.
The instrumental “Overture 1383” finds Yngwie blending his classical influences with hard rock rhythms, balancing acoustic flourishes and electric shredding. It’s a reminder that behind the speed and fire lies a composer’s ear. “Anguish and Fear” then ups the tempo again, with Yngwie and Jens trading blistering solos in a guitar-keyboard duel that makes the track one of the album’s highlights.
“On the Run Again”, a reworked version of Yngwie’s earlier Steeler track “Victim of the City,” has the most pure "heavy metal" riffs, and sees Soto attack the vocals with rock grit. “Soldier Without Faith” expands into over 6:00 minutes epic territory, with its extended intro of explosions and keyboard atmospheric. “Caught in the Middle” follows with heavy riffs and relentless double bass drumming, only to be lifted mid-song by another inspired guitar-keyboard exchange.
Finally, the album closes with the title track, “Marching Out”, a showcase of both power and restraint. The shred gives way to a tender, melodic fade, leaving the listener suspended, wanting more.
Commercially, “Marching Out” was a success, reaching No. 52 on the Billboard 200 and holding its ground for 28 weeks. Critics were split—some praising its raw aggression compared to “Rising Force”, others calling the lyrics and fantasy themes overindulgent—but fans recognized it as the true launch of Yngwie’s career as a leader of his own "Rising Force".
This would also be the last studio album with Jeff Scott Soto, though he briefly returned during the “Trilogy” tour before Yngwie’s near-fatal car accident cut it short. Regrettably, Soto did not reappear as lead vocalist until the 1996 album "Inspiration", but what they created here has endured as one of the most important vocal-guitar collaborations in neoclassical metal.
In the end, “Marching Out” is both a guitarist’s triumphant statement and one of Neoclassical metal most influential albums. It remains one of Yngwie’s most accessible and enduring works, a snapshot of the moment when classical music met heavy metal guitar shredder.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music