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Album reviews:
Here you'll find all album reviews sorted on publish date, descending. Latest published items are on top.
Note: We don't give a mark to: MCDs, DEMOs, Compilations and Live albums.
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| Page: Show all reviews |
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 | 01. Prelude Of Doom (Intro)
02. Too Late
03. Devil Zone
04. Prisoner Of Love
05. Dreaming Dead
06. Glory Night
07. Dark Waves Of The Sea (Oceans Of Time Pt. II: The Dark Side)
08. Burning Rain
09. Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile)
10. The End Of Our Time
|  | Axel Rudi Pell’s career began in 1980 with the band, Steeler, who sold over 30,000 copies of their commercially most successful release, Strike Back, and brought out their fourth and final album, Undercover Animal, in 1988. In November of that year, Pell formed his own group together with Jörg Deisinger (ex-Bonfire), drummer Jörg Michael, bassist Thomas Smuszynski (ex-U.D.O.) and the American vocalist, Charlie Huhn (Ted Nugent, Gary Moore, Victory). Their debut album, Wild Obsessions, arrived at the stores one year later, followed by Nasty Reputation, for whom Pell enlisted the American frontman, Rob Rock (M.A.R.S, Impellitteri), who was replaced during the subsequent German tour by former Malmsteen vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto. With Soto as a new member, the third album, Eternal Prisoner (1992), was undeniable proof that the band had found their own, unmistakable style. One year later, Pell brought out The Ballads, an album featuring his most accomplished rock ballads. With Between The Walls (1994) and the live recording, Made In Germany, the guitarist from Bochum held on to his typical style even in the post-grunge era. The subsequent Black Moon Pyramid (1996) was the second Pell album in succession to make the German album charts. 1997 saw the arrival of Pell’s eighth offering, Magic, featuring a thematically consistent concept based on supernatural stories. Magic also entered the charts, followed by Oceans Of Time, the commercially most successful album at that time by the Axel Rudi Pell band, and the continuation of Pell’s ballad concept (‘The Ballads II’, 1999). Following the departure of Jeff Scott Soto, Pell enlisted American vocalist Johnny Gioeli (ex-Hardline) for the production of Oceans Of Time, The Ballads III and his 2000 release, Masquerade Ball. His characteristic voice also enhanced the subsequent releases, Shadow Zone (2002) and Kings & Queens (2004), as well as the highly accomplished Mystica (2006) and the covers album, Diamonds Unlocked.
Tales Of The Crown (2008), the most recent studio recording by the Axel Rudi Pell band, surprised with a number of innovations and made no. 41 of the German album charts. The Crest is the next in line. So far the history in a nut shell from Axel Rudi Pell. (ARP)
This new album The Crest is a typical ARP album, but if you are a good listener you can hear that some songs are very much influenced by Black Sabbath with Ronnie James DIO (R.I.P.). Heaven & Hell they called themselves lately. Tracks like Too Late, Devil Zone and Dreaming Dead are examples of it. But there is much more to enjoy on this album. With Glory Night we have the inevitable ballad and Burning Rain will do it very good live on stage. After the short instrumental openings track we have another instrumental track on this album which is called Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile) A track with some piano and guitar in it. And the album ends with the epic track The End Of Our Time.
But I didn’t have mentioned my favourite track ! That is of course Dark Waves Of The Sea (Oceans Of Time Pt. II: The Dark Side). An eight minute clocking typical ARP song with clear references to the Oceans Of Time album from 1998. And that was the first album with the current singer Johnny Gioeli !
A few things that should be mentioned is the fact that Axel Rudi Pell has taken care off the production himself for this new record with producer Charlie Bauerfeind at the background helping out when needed. Charlie Bauerfeind is also responsible for the mix.
And there are no double bass drums on this album ! Yes, you read that right. The Rhythm Beast Mike Terrana was jumping for joy when he heard that !
Conclusion is that in my honest opinion Axel Rudi Pell has made one of his best albums with ‘The Crest’ Try it out for yourself on www.myspace.com/axelrudipellofficial .
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Rating: 86 /100 | |
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