The album art for YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's forthcoming Perpetual Flame release has been revealed (image at left, click to enlarge).

The album, to be released on October 14th, will be the first-ever Yngwie album to be released via Rising Force Records (distributed via Koch). It also marks the debut on an Yngwie album by ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH frontman, Tim 'Ripper' Owens.

12 tracks of pure six-string metallic bliss (which stretches to almost 70 minutes total), the album was produced and engineered by Yngwie himself, and mixed by Roy Z (who has previously worked with Judas Priest and Bruce Dickinson, among others). Joining Yngwie and Ripper on the album is keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Patrick Johansson (Yngwie contributed bass, additional keyboards, and vocals, as well), but on tour, Michael Troy will supply keyboards, and Bjorn Englen will be laying down the bass. A supporting tour of the US and Canada is slated to run through all of October.

Single-handedly, Yngwie Malmsteen trailblazed the classical metal movement in the 1980's. During a time when the majority of guitarists were merely copying Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie was one of the few rock guitarists to create his own instantly-identifiable playing style – which has been subsequently mimicked by countless other guitarists. Yngwie is responsible for issuing some of the metal's all-time great guitar classics, especially such releases as 1984's Rising Force, 1985's Marching Out, 1992's Fire And Ice, and most recently, 2005's Unleash The Fury.

In addition to the arrival of Perpetual Flame in October, another career highlight is slated for that same month – Yngwie will be inducted into the Rock Walk on Monday, October 13th in Los Angeles.

Additionally a new Fender/Yngwie Malmsteen custom shop guitar will be unveiled on November 28th (with a limited run of 100 instruments) and there will be a slew of CD reissues of Yngwie classics to soon be announced.

Complete tracklisting for Perpetual Flame: 'Death Dealer', 'Damnation Game', 'Live To Fight (Another Day)', 'Red Devil', 'Four Horsemen (Of The Apocalypse)', 'Priest Of The Unholy', 'Be Careful What You Wish For', 'Caprici Di Diablo', 'Lament', 'Magic City', 'Eleventh Hour', 'Heavy Heart'.

Yngwie Malmsteen 2008 North American Tour Dates:

September

28 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Centro Bellas Artes

October

4 - San Antonio, TX - Scoutbar
5 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
8 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
9 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
10 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
11 - Ventura, CA - Majestic Ventura Theater
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon
17 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Theater
19 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
21 - Williamsville, NY - Club Infinity
24 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
26 - New York, NY - Blender Theater