Pell, Axel Rudi

The Crest

Price: 11.75

Review / Notes: In some ways, it’s easy to knock Axel Rudi Pell. Since disbanding Germanic metaller’s Steeler at the tail end of the 80’s, the blond guitarist has steadfastly ploughed his own furrow, refusing to bend or compromise his principles to the will of others. It took him a couple of albums to get there, but the classic Rainbow infused hard rockin’ style we all know and love emerged fully formed with solo effort number three ‘Eternal Prisoner’ back in ’92; and since then it’s probably fair to say each subsequent album has been a variation on that same theme. Some of course have been better than others, but I guess my point is that when it comes to Pell, you pretty much know what it is you’re gonna get before you even take the shrink wrap off the CD. And so it is with studio album number thirteen, ‘The Crest’. Now, much as I admire Axel and his band - indeed, I’ve championed them for almost as long as I can remember - even I’ll admit that his last couple of efforts haven’t been on anything like par with his mid to late 90’s best. Not that they’re particularly bad you understand, just not quite up to the same high standards we’ve come to expect, nay demand. Fortunately, the impending release of ‘The Crest’ goes a long way towards redressing the balance back in his favour. Although the final sheen was added by producer Charlie Bauerfiend, most of the actual recording work was done by Axel himself; and in a strange kind of way that seems to have taken the band back full circle to more of a mid 90’s sound. Aided and abetted by the usual suspects - Johnny Gioeli, Ferdy Doernberg, Mike Terrana and Volker Krawczak – Pell seems to have risen to the challenge admirably, in the process laying down some of his most memorable songs in some time. In some respects it’s hard to pinpoint just what it is that makes this set of songs more memorable than others in recent years, although the fact that there’s a complete dearth of the throw away, speed infused rock of yore is a good indication of what you can expect. Yep, it seems that the brooding and mystical Pell is back with a bit of a vengeance as amply demonstrated on the likes of ‘Dark Waves Of The Sea’, ‘Dreaming Dead’ and ‘Devil Zone’. As you’d expect, half the songs clock in above the six minute mark (and most of the others are well over five!) which gives Axel ample opportunity to peel of some great, emotionally charged solos. I suspect there are some that still won’t get it, but to these ears ‘The Crest’ is easily his best effort since ‘Shadow Zone’, and possibly even the brilliant ‘The Masquerade Ball’ ... what more of a recommendation do you need than that?