It’s refreshing to hear Mark Boals expanding his boundaries. Edge of the World is the third and most accessible album from the former Yngwie Malmsteen singer, and it’s less symphonic than Boals’ first album, 1998’s Ignition, and 2000’s Ring of Fire. But Edge of the World nevertheless assaults listeners with an onslaught of classic rock with plenty of neoclassical and progressive elements. They just seem more subtle this time around, if you can believe that.
Songs like “Through the Endless Night,” “Up to You” and “The Criminal” retain the singer’s trademark far-ranging powerhouse of a voice without sending the music over the top or into galloping high gear.
Whereas Boals previously bored listeners after awhile, here he energizes ears – seldom faltering or losing his way. Invigorated by contributions from guitarists Tony MacAlpine (Planet X, Cyril Achard) and Neil Citron (Lana Lane, Steve Vai), drummers Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath) and Virgil Donati (Planet X, Steve Walsh), plus keyboard player Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists, Lana Lane), the singer, rhythm guitarist and bass player seems to have found his groove. It’s as if Boals finally realizes he doesn’t necessarily need to make Malmsteen music to be effective. Smart man…
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