Music: Heavy Metal/Power Metal
Country: Germany
Web site: http://www.axel-rudi-pell.de/
Cool Songs: Devil Zone, Dreaming Dead, The End of Our Time
Extreme metal has its place. The speed, violence and darkness it yields can definitely be the thing to get your day going. However, the screams, growls and lack of melody become grating on the ears and psyche, especially after hearing a number of these bands in a row. Every once in a while, we old school metal heads want something with smooth harmonies, something we can sing and immerse ourselves in traditional chorus lines and flashy guitars from metals golden years.
German axe wizard AXEL RUDI PELL may provide that all these elements, and take us back to the metal of our childhood. For over twenty years, he has provided people all over the world, Germany in particular, with guitar shredding, soaring vocals, fantastic symphonic elements. His latest, The Crest doesnt show Pell backing off from this tradition.
With The Crest, Pell brings back more of his trademark guitar sound that is heavily, albeit not plagiarized, influenced by 1980s heavy metal. Although steeped in mid-tones, Pell cranks up the distortion far beyond that heard by metal heroes TWISTED SISTER and QUIET RIOT. In other words, his production is quite modern. Pell also offers a variety of riffs, from the chugging, in-your-face rhythms of Too Late to the mammoth ringing chords of Prisoner of Love to the catchy gallops of Dreaming Dead.
Vocalist, Gioeli via Skype possesses a voice capable of matching the passionate wails of Pells solo work. Often, these facets pair up with enchanted keys; therefore, pushing Pells infectious chorus lines. Organic elements such as violin, acoustic guitar and piano found on tracks such as The Devils Zone and Glory Zone provide a soft passage for forthcoming dynamics or the core of his ballad.
Maybe not his best work, The Crest is nonetheless an AXEL RUDI PELL album, through and through. Those who have followed this brilliant musician through his career should find solstice in said album. If youre looking for an album to sing or play air guitar to while driving back home from your shitty job, grab a copy of The Crest.
note: 7.5/10
Tracklist
1. Prelude Of Doom (Intro)
2. Too Late
3. Devil Zone
4. Prisoner Of Love
5. Dreaming Dead
6. Glory Night
7. Dark Waves Of The Sea (Oceans Of Time Pt. II: The Dark Side)
8. Burning Rain
9. Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile)
10. The End Of Our Time
Total playing time 57:10
Line-up
Johnny Gioeli – Vocals
Axel Rudi Pell – Guitars
Volker Krawczak – Bass
Mike Terrana – Drums
Ferdy Doernberg – Keyboards
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