title: Facing the Animal
text: Facing the Animal is the tenth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1997 through Pony Canyon (Japan) and Mercury Records (United States). The album reached No. 20 on the Finnish albums chart and No. 39 on the Swedish albums chart.
  
  Although credited to Malmsteen, "Air on a Theme" is an arrangement of the second movement (Largo) of Antonio Vivaldi's "Piccolo Concerto in C Major (RV443)". Facing the Animal features one of drummer Cozy Powell's last performances before his death in April 1998.
  
  Critical reception
  
  Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Facing the Animal three stars out of five, saying that "much of the record is stronger than anything Malmsteen has recorded in years" but also calling it "predictable, from the rockers to the power ballads".
  
  Track listing
  
  Personnel
  Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar, bass (tracks 1, 4, 6, 12), background vocals, arrangement, production
  Mats Levén – lead vocals (except track 13)
  Mats Olausson – keyboards
  Cozy Powell – drums (except track 13)
  Barry Dunaway – bass (except tracks 1, 4, 6, 12, 13)
  Chris Tsangarides – engineering, mixing, production
  Keith Rose – engineering assistance
  Rod Fuller – mastering
  
  Chart performance
  
  Certifications
  
  References
  
  External links
  Facing the Animal, 1997 at yngwiemalmsteen.com
  
  Yngwie Malmsteen albums
  1997 albums
  Albums produced by Chris Tsangarides
  Pony Canyon albums
  Mercury Records albums