The legato guitar playing on this album, reminiscent of a
violin, and the high-level crossover between
classical music and
heavy metal had a significant influence on both the rock and guitar scenes, giving rise to a new genre known as "
neoclassical metal" and inspiring many followers. Although the album was nominated for the
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, it did not win; however, it received numerous accolades, including Best New Artist and Best Album in reader polls and other magazine awards. In 2013,
Guitar World magazine in the United States ranked it first in their "Top 10 Classic Shred Albums." The track "Far Beyond the Sun" from the album was used almost unchanged in the soundtrack of the game
Ys IV by
Nihon Falcom, under the title "The Great Trial." Following this release, Yngwie focused on albums featuring vocals, and his next instrumental album did not appear until
Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E-flat minor, Op. 1 (1998). The title
Rising Force refers to the band Yngwie formed during his amateur years. From this album onward, he frequently released music under the name Rising Force. ==Critical reception==