In addition to his band Beyond Fear, Owens is now the vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen, replacing Doogie White who had been with Malmsteen for his past few albums. Former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian also comes aboard for Perpetual Flame.
Malmsteen's guitars and Owens' vocals are a formidable combination. Perpetual Flame has all the shredding you expect from Yngie, from blazing riffs to world class solos. He's considered one of the best guitarists of all time, and fans of guitar wizardry will always check out Malmsteen's work.
But to appeal to a wider crowd, there has to be more than just great guitars, and Perpetual Flame delivers. The songs are very catchy and melodic with several very memorable choruses. There are times when things drag on a little long, but for the most part the songs are compelling enough to sustain interest throughout.
Malmsteen has been doing this a long time, and the CD title signifies he still has the passion and burning flame to keep writing and playing at a high level. His great guitar work and the excellent vocals from Owens make Perpetual Flame one of his best albums in quite a while.
(released October 14, 2008 on Rising Force Records)
