Sometimes it feels like German guitar-hero Axel Rudi Pell has been around forever and released like a million records. But the fact is that Pell has been around for a long, long time, starting out with his band Steeler (not the Ron Keel/Yngwie Malmsteen version) back in 1984 and released four albums with them before he jumped ship and went solo back in 1989. Pell has to date released no less than 19 studio albums under his own name, the new album included. That being said, the quality hasn’t always been sky-high – his first four albums were all uneven efforts and it would take him up until 1996 and his fifth album Black Moon Pyramid to get things in order properly.
Also, many of his latest albums has seen Pell & co on repeat where many albums sounding more or less like rewritings of his previous albums – to the point of me starting to lose interest. I mean, why should I dig into albums like Tales Of The Crown (2008), Game Of Sins (2016) or his last album Knights Call (2018) when the only feel like less interesting versions of great stuff like Oceans Of Time (1998), The Masquerade Ball (2000) or Kings And Queens (2004)? I know that Pell himself hates when people claims that he only rewrites his old stuff but that’s how I feel – and there are many out there who agrees on that. With that, I don’t have any conceptions of Pell doing a complete make-over and start doing anything revolutionary – and he shouldn’t – but some development really wouldn’t hurt.
After only one spin of this record, two things stands crystal clear and one of them is that when it comes to the album’s set-up when it comes to the tracklist is exactly the same as it always has been. I will get to the second thing later on. As always, the album begins with an intro, in this case “The Black Serenade”. Sound wise it goes hand in hand with so many of Pell’s intros – dark and atmospheric, but it sure does its job of leading us into the the real opening track, an all guns blazing, fast-tracked and in-your-face rocker called “Gunfire”, full of punch and guts. It’s a typical ARP opener, hard and rough but also with a striking vocal melody and a bang-on-target chorus. Again, nothing new under the sun but a whole lot better than many of ARP’s tunes in the same vein. I really like this.
Next up is “Bad Reputation” (another title used to death…), a mid-paced Classic Rock number, very riff-happy on a solid rhythm that makes for a straight-forward groove. It dwells in 70’s Rainbow-land but also comes with a glistening Melodic Rock chorus, very hook-laden and catchy but without the most obvious radio-flirtations. This song caught me off guard as it sounds a lot more focused and spot-on than ARP and his cohorts has done in many years. Very good. The title-track is another one of those heavy and punchy mid-tempoed numbers which sounds like a meeting of old Rainbow, Dio and Tony Martin era Black Sabbath. With seven minutes of massive riffs, a heavy foundation signed Bobby Rondinelli and a darker ambience, the song also brings on a whole lot of memorable vocal melodies and a refrain that hits home right from hello. Not a far cry from older ARP-stuff like “Masquerade Ball” and such, the song is one of the strongest I have heard from this lot in ages. Bloody great, it is.
The uptempo and crunchy “The End Of The Line” takes on a late 70’s/early 80’s classic Hard Rock vibe. With a pumping rhythm, this kicking and biting rocker goes right for the throat. It’s a straight-forward and concise rocker with a strong hook-line and even though it gets right in your face, it’s still filled with memorable melodies and a simple yet catchy refrain. Good one. The slow Classic Rock ballad “As Blind As A Fool Can Be” might just be one of ARP’s absolute best ballads ever. It’s quite bluesy, Deep Purple style with an accompanying Hammond Organ and quite a tough rhythm. It holds a big soundscape, a prominently memorable main-melody and even though traces of power balladry shows up, it’s with both heaviness and a swagger and a magnificent refrain that could fill any arena out there with lighters (well, it’s mobile phones these days but lighters are way cooler). How awesome.
“Wings Of The Storm” is heavy, dark and Led Zeppelin influenced fat-riffed with bluesy vibes all over the place. The big Hammond gives out Jon Lord vibes and the direct and straight ahead chorus nails itself to brain like a meat-hook. Good stuff indeed. “Waiting For Your Call” is an Classic Rock meets Melodic Rock stomper with crunchy guitars and a driving beat. It’s rhythmic and 80’s riffing with a stellar refrain that catches on after only seconds. I dig this. Starting out on a laid-back note with a reggae riff and rhythm – yes, you read that right – “Living In A Dream” is slow on a groove and a very melodic vocal-melody but gets faster and adds both Hammond and crispy guitars. It’s a driving, straight ahead Classic rock tune that makes me think of Uriah Heep’s “Easy Living” some. A killer track. The album’s closing track “Into The Fire” is heavy and slower in pace and holds a dark atmosphere and a tough fist-in-the-air rhythm. Towards the end the song speeds up and gets rougher and punchier while the memorable melodies are still intact. It also comes with damn hard-hitting refrain. Very good indeed.
Now, the second thing that stood clear after just one spin of the album is that this is easily Axel Rudi Pell’s best record in ages. It’s his best since Mystica (2006), maybe even since Kings And Queens. Why? Well, for the sole reason that the songs are just better, that simple. It’s not that Pell and his cohorts – singer Johnny Gioeli, bassist Volker Krawzcak, drummer Bobby Rondinelli and keyboardist Freddy Doernberg – has made a revolutionary album. Nope, things are pretty much the same in terms of musical identity and sound so no surprises there expect for the reggae thingy. But the songs are more well-written, more hooks, more memorable and I imagine I hear a new-found spark in every corner of the record. I admit I had pretty much given up on Pell releasing a record that could last, but I’ll be damned if that album is this one because I sure I have the urge to pick it up again and again. Well done!
7/10
More Axel Rudi Pell reviews:
The Crest
Circle Of The Oath
Into The Storm
Game Of Sins
Knights Call
Tracklist:
1. The Black Serenade (Intro)
2. Gunfire
3. Bad Reputation
4. Sign Of The Times
5. The End Of The Line
6. As Blind As A Fool Can Be
7. Wings Of The Storm
8. Waiting For Your Call
9. Living In A Dream
10. Into The Fire
CD & Festival reviews 