AXEL RUDI PELL “Circle Of The Oath” /CD/

The second DVD by legendary German Hard Rock/Heavy/Power Metal band.
If you like Axel Rudi Pell or if you just like to listen to great Heavy Metal, "Live Over Europe" is a must! In Europe, Axel Rudi Pell's live shows are a hot attraction because they so faithfully replicate the experience of '70s and '80s Metal gatherings. "Live Over Europe" is full of 21st century performances that do everything possible to give audiences a '70s/'80s-like Metal experience. The first DVD focuses on Pell's 75-minute appearance at the 2007 Rock Hard Festival in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, while the second DVD is billed as the "Official Bootleg DVD" and was filmed at several different events (including festivals in Sweden in 2004, Germany and Belgium in 2005, and the U.K. in 2006).
In terms of visual quality and sound quality, there is an obvious difference between DVD one and DVD two; Pell's Gelsenkirchen set was filmed professionally, whereas most of the footage on DVD two was filmed from within an audience and has a home movie-ish appearance. The overall quality on DVD two isn't terrible, although it certainly isn't audiophile quality either. But the performances are inspired on both DVDs, "Live Over Europe" is a captivating example of how much live Metal performances of the 2000s can feel like live Metal performances of the '70s and '80s!
The magical atmosphere of Axel Rudi Pell's music, laying sophisticatedly on his smart-influenced Blackmore taste, has raised his reputation to a respected level worldwide.
"Live Over Europe" is an amazing DVD, really this is a must for all the people who like Heavy Metal and great musician skill of course. The Axell Rudi Pell band is a great combo full of amazing musicians, so if you like great guitar soli and catchy songs, please check this release, you'll not regret it!!
Steamhammer/SPV, 2008 (SPV 99792 2DVD). Russian bootlegged version.

Tracklist:

DVD I (Filmed and recorded live at the “Rock Hard” Festival, Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater, Germany, on May 27th 2007)
1. Fly To The Moon
2. Strong As A Rock
3. The Masquerade Ball / Casbah
4. Drumsolo
5. Tear Down The Walls
6. Mystica
7. Rock The Nation
8. The Temple Of The King
9. Fool Fool
10. Call Her Princess

DVD II (Official Bootleg DVD)
1. Tear Down The Wall [Sweden Rock Festival 2004]
2. Strong As A Rock [Sweden Rock Festival 2004]
3. Fool Fool [Bang Your Head Festival 2005]
4. The Masquerade Ball / Casbah [Z7 Pratteln - Switzerland 2005]
5. Carousel [Incl. Keyboard-Solo]
6. The Temple Of The King [Z7 Pratteln - Switzerland 2005]
7. Call Her Princess [Z7 Pratteln - Switzerland 2005]
8. Legions Of Hell [Zeche - Bochum 2004]
9. Take The Crown [Zeche - Bochum 2004]
10. Rock The Nation [Bloodstock Festival UK 2006]
11. Strong As A Rock [W:O:A 2005]
12. Love Gun [Zeche Bochum 2006]
13. Oceans Of Time [Zeche Bochum 2006]
14. Fly To The Moon [Zeche Bochum 2006]
15. Mystica [Zeche Bochum 2006]
16. Haunted Castle Serenade [Zeche Bochum 2006]
17. Rock The Nation [Zeche Bochum 2006]
18. Call Her Princess [Graspop Metal Meeting - Belgium 2005]

The twelfth full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock/Heavy/Power Metal band.
"Diamonds Unlocked" is a cover songs album that consists of 10 cover tracks and 1 self-written introduction track. Axel Rudi Pell attempted to make cover versions of tracks from typically "non-Metal" artists including Phil Collins and Michael Bolton in order to show how these songs would be done in his signature Melodic Rock/Metal style.
"Diamonds Unlocked" is hardly the first example of an established rocker putting together an album of covers, and it certainly won't be the last. Some Rock critics say that they hate cover albums on principle, but truth be told, there is nothing wrong with cover albums as long as the artist makes an effort to put new spins on familiar songs. In other words, a good cover album isn't going to sound like the work of a run-of-the-mill cover band - and Axel Rudi Pell pretty much avoids that on "Diamonds Unlocked", which employs Johnny Gioeli (perhaps best known for his work with Hardline) on lead vocals. Gioeli's performances tend to have a Jon Bon Jovi-ish quality, but none of the songs on this 2007 release are Bon Jovi songs; actually, about half of the tunes originated outside of Hard Rock and Metal.
Pell and Gioeli turn their attention to Hard Rock favorites like the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again", Montrose's "Rock the Nation", and Free's "Heartbreaker", but they also embrace songs ranging from Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" to U2's "Beautiful Day" to Michael Bolton's "Fools Game". Pell and Gioeli make "In the Air Tonight" and "Beautiful Day" Rock harder - not in a full-fledged Heavy Metal way, but certainly in a Hard Rock/Arena Rock way - whereas their equally intriguing take on Kiss' "Love Gun" does just the opposite: it rocks less hard than the original version and is transformed into a moody ballad.
"Diamonds Unlocked" won't go down in history as one of 2007's masterpieces, but despite hitting the occasional speed bump (most notably, the Bolton cover), "Diamonds Unlocked" has more ups than downs and demonstrates that cover albums don't have to be predictable or devoid of surprises. After all, you probably already know all the songs featured on this CD, but damn, that's cool to listen to those Metal versions! It's fresh and extremely fun to listen to such covers and you'll like a lot to listen to this album!! "Diamonds Unlocked" is a really nice break in the musical discography of Axel Rudi Pell!!!
Steamhammer/SPV, 2007 (SPV 98072 CD). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. The Diamond Overture 1:42
2. Warrior (Riot cover) 3:43
3. Beautiful Day (U2 cover) 4:47
4. Stone (Chris Rea / The Law cover) 6:36
5. Love Gun (KISS cover) 4:04
6. Fools Game (Michael Bolton cover) 3:58
7. Heartbreaker (Free cover) 6:56
8. Rock The Nation (Montrose cover) 4:05
9. In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover) 8:38
10. Like A Child Again (The Mission cover) 4:48
11. Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who cover) 6:13
Total playing time: 55:30 min.

The sixteenth full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock/Heavy/Power Metal band.
There are bands that opt to change with the times, there are bands that gradually evolve with little sense of the scene around them, and then there are the unmoved stoics like Axel Rudi Pell that sneer at the very concept of evolution. One might venture to say that Axel never left the 1980s, but rather the eighties may have left him to be their spokesman throughout the several decades to follow. His band's sound is one that saw its most significant developments in terms of quality right in the midst of the musical wastelands of the mid 1990s, and is arguably one of the earliest and most conservative purveyors of what is now remembered as the turn of the millennium Power Metal revival. To be clear, there has been a fair degree of development in the overall heaviness and depth of ARP's sound and production, but a constant air of familiarity with the early days of Melodic Metal from the primordial wells of Deep Purple, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Uli Jon Roth and early Yngwie Malmsteen permeates every inch of their sound and has done so for the full 25 years of their existence.
Though the sound in question has not really changed all that much, it is curious to note that the tides of time has brought a significant change to the lineup of this fold for the first time in 12 years, namely with the exodus of longtime drummer Mike Terrana, himself filling the massive shoes of kit extraordinaire Jorg Michael. Naturally questions arise of what sort of larger than life personality could man the percussive battery in a similar fashion to the two persons in question, and Axel seems to have quadrupled down on hims commitment to the mystique of 80s Metal by tapping Bobby Rondinelli, who arguably embodies the decade in question more than any drummer still out there since the close of said period and whose past band associations (including Warlock, Rainbow and Black Sabbath) make him probably the most logical choice. His contribution to this album is maybe a bit more fancy and fill-happy than that of Terrana, but follows the same mode of power and rock-solid punch that he brought to the kit on the last several albums.
In spite of the shift in membership, "Into The Storm" follows the recent precedents of "The Crest" and "Circle Of The Oath" to a sheer fault, and even dredges up some occasional similarities to the colossal one set by 2006 new classic "Mystica". It starts on a somewhat atypical note with the instrumental prelude "The Inquisitional Procedure", which opts to skip a guitar driven melody with a keyboard backdrop for something a bit more Symphonic, Atmospheric and subtle, but once the full band kicks in it's business as usual. The flashy Speed Metal that was largely abandoned following "Kings And Queens" is still absent, but there is a healthy dose of upper mid-tempo rocks in "Tower Of Lies", the Deep Purple infused Rock organ meets driving Metal cruiser "Burning Chains", the galloping delight "Changing Times" and the catchy bruiser "High Above". Actually, this album does mark a slight shift towards an approach that could be described as more well-rounded and reliant on mid-paced impact, as the more back-tempo rocker "Long Way To Go" and the epic semi-ballad turned catchy march after the "Mystica" mold "Touching Heaven" follow a similar mode of mostly punch and only occasional nods to Axel Rudi Pell's signature balladry approach.
While being a bit lighter on the ballad work and quirky eastern influences, those same elements that reminisce upon the more creative side of Axel catalog where the more ambitious moments of Dio and Rainbow are emulated definitely find themselves well represented here. The woeful piano driven ballad "When Truth Hurts" is kinda cliche and arguably the weak point of this whole experience, but Axel's expressive lead playing definitely bolsters an otherwise commonplace ballad, while the dreary reinterpretation of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" works a bit better and finds itself with a vocalist in Johnny Gioeli who is bearable for more than two minutes. But in usual Axel Rudi Pell fashion, the coup de grace turns out to be the long-winded title song "Into The Storm", which takes the same cues that "Circle Of The Oath" took from the Eastern-inspired side of the Rainbow catalog (aka "Stargazer" and "Gates Of Babylon"), but without the quirky switches in feel and with more of a straight-forward, down tempo drag somewhat reminiscent of "Holy Diver".
Generally speaking, “Into The Storm” tends to be marked by a general sense of tightness and togetherness between the rhythm section, guitar riff work, keyboards and vocals, while Axel's lead work tends to be a bit more loose in character. While some songs obviously sound quite alike on here, this album includes no stinker and has a constant high quality. In times where comparable German bands such as Axxis, Edguy, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear and Sinner are releasing somewhat lackluster records, Axel Rudin Pell still incarnates the power other Power Metal bands seem to have lost. Fans of Dio, Jorn, Lizzy Borden and even Whitesnake will also feel at home when they are listening to this release. The veterans are really attacking the genre thrown this year! They don’t do it with a big bang but prove their honest consistency that their colleagues have lost over the last years. Fans of all aforementioned bands should check this album out as it’s never too late to discover Axel Rudi Pell!!
Steamhammer/SPV, 2014 (SPV 266372 CD). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. The Inquisitorial Procedure 1:48
2. Tower Of Lies 4:26
3. Long Way To Go 5:32
4. Burning Chains 5:23
5. When Truth Hurts 6:46
6. Changing Times 6:05
7. Touching Heaven 7:02
8. High Above 4:49
9. Hey Hey My My 5:02
10. Into The Storm 10:35
Total playing time: 57:28 min.

The second full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock/Heavy/Power Metal band.
After transitioning into a solo artist and releasing the strong yet somewhat derivative album “Wild Obsession”, Axel parted ways with singer Charlie Huhn and hooked up with more accomplished and passion driven singer Rob Rock. “Nasty Reputation” is the blue print for the new and refined band's sound that still consistently present on his latest albums despite a changing musical world and a barrage of fly by night trends. 
Rob Rock’s vocal performance on here is over-the-top, as is the case with his solo work, but this has consistently worked well for him. He pulls off Sleazy sounding Rocking numbers like the album’s title track and “Wanted Man” with equally proficiency as he does the more vocally exposed and keyboard driven ballad “When a Blind Man cries”. Unlike Jeff Scott Soto and Johnny Gioeli, whom both tend to sound rough edged when hitting the higher notes, Rob’s voice consistently remains a husky, classically driven tenor when not going for the over-the-top banshee screeches. 
As far as the overall song collection on here, we get all the key ingredients for the same winning albums of “Oceans Of Time” and “Kings And Queens” which followed a while after this one. “I Will Survive” and “Fighting the Law” are classic band's brand Speed Metal. “Wanted Man” and “Firewall” are cut from the mid-tempo 80s inspired Sleaze Metal but with a bit more attitude, as is “Unchain the Thunder” but with a few quiet sections for melodically driven guitar work and more subdued vocals. “When a Blind Man Cries” is the first true Axel Rudi Pell ballad in the current definition, combining an exposed vocal performance and a serene overall atmosphere provided by the keyboards with some emotionally driven yet simple lead work. “Nasty Reputation” is cut from the mid-tempo 80s fold, but also possesses the simple riffing and Rock glorifying lyrics that make for any live venue favorite. But the one that really grabs the listener is the epic guitar driven track “Land of the Giants”, which is the blueprint for every long winded epic found on every release since its conception. Musically it bears the most similarity to “Gates of the Seven Seals” off the "Oceans Of Time" LP, containing a similar elongated solo section with funky wah pedal work and some interesting background atmospheric devices.
Overall, if you liked “Oceans Of Time”, “Between The Walls”, “Masquerade Ball”, or any of the mid 90s to current day Axel Rudi Pell releases, this album will definitely give you and enjoyable listening experience! If you are not familiar with these releases, picture a brilliant marriage of the lyrical poetry of Ronnie Dio, the music of Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Yngwie Malmsteen and you’ll get the basic idea!!
SPV/Steamhammer, 1991 (SPV 084-76342). Made in Germany. Re-press.


Tracklist:
1. I Will Survive 5:03 
2. Nasty Reputation 4:07 
3. Fighting The Law 3:21 
4. Wanted Man 3:49 
5. When A Blind Man Cries 4:34
6. Land Of The Giants 10:25
7. Firewall 3:51 
8. Unchain The Thunder 3:31 
9. Open Doors ( Pt.1:Experience Pt.2:The Journey Pt.3:Sugar Big Daddy ) 7:54
Total playing time: 46:35 min.

The thirteenth full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock/Heavy/Power Metal band.
This 2008 release is totally oblivious to Metal trends of the late 2000s, but that doesn't prevent every one of the tracks from being pleasingly solid. The only thing that lets you know this is a 2008 release is the release date; stylistically, melodic but Hard-Rocking tracks such as "Angel Eyes", "Buried Alive," and "Riding on an Arrow" are firmly planted in the 1970s and 1980s. Old-school headbangers like Ronnie James Dio, Rainbow, Deep Purple, and UFO continue to inspire Pell creatively, and he makes no effort to update his approach.
Again, that is probably for the best; as predictable as "Tales Of The Crown" is, Pell never sounds bored or uninspired. Quite the contrary - he sounds like he gets a lot of pleasure from his 1970s/1980s comfort zone. And once again, former Hardline frontman Johnny Gioeli comes through for Pell. Gioeli still sounds a lot like Jon Bon Jovi, but none of the material on this hourlong CD is Bon Jovi-ish; while Bon Jovi's Hard Rock/Pop Metal was never Heavy Metal in the strict sense, "Tales Of The Crown" is very much a Metal album. And it is also an enjoyable indication that in some cases, artists are probably better off not changing with the times!
Steamhammer/SPV, 2008 (SPV 91702 CD). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Higher 7:18
2. Ain't Gonna Win 4:12
3. Angel Eyes 4:58
4. Crossfire 5:22
5. Touching My Soul 6:32
6. Emotional Echoes 5:07
7. Riding On An Arrow 5:55
8. Tales Of The Crown 8:21
9. Buried Alive 5:13
10. Northern Lights 6:22
Total playing time: 59:20 min.
 

The debut full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock/Glam Metal band.
After his exodus from 80s German Glam Metal outfit Steeler, Axel Rudi Pell decided to go it alone and create a music all his own, and in subsequent years would grow to develop a sound more worthy of his abilities than what he had been doing.
However, like with all solo projects, one can’t help but imitate what one knows at the time until new ideas begin to form, and this release succeeds mostly in being a slightly more musically interesting version of Steeler. It’s full of great guitar work, vocalist Charlie Huhn does a decent job, but overall this is still 80s Glam Rock.
Charlie Huhn sounds a tiny bit like Jeff Scott Soto in his low to mid-range, but when he launches into his higher register, he sounds a bit more like a combination of Bon Scott and Udo Dirkschneider. The resulting combination of his vocals and the mostly Rock driven riffs, is quite good for singing cheesy love ballads like “Broken Heart” in the Dokken style, as well as for Rock anthems about strippers like “Call Her Princess”. But it is painfully obvious that such a voice would not be able to pull off a more art driven work like “Oceans of Time” or “Legions of Hell”.
The musical on here is pretty much as far removed from the current direction of the band as the vocalist is. The principle riffs of 80s Glam anthems like “Slave of Love”, “Snake Eyes” and “Cold as Ice” are heavily Mötley Crüe inspired, while the choruses are a bit more towards the Dokken formula of dense harmonies and multiple backup singers. “Broken Heart” has an interesting acoustic line and plenty of slow melodic solo work, but its overall presentation is not as deep or thought provoking as “Forever Angel” or “The Clown is Dead”. 
The musical highlights on here are the areas where Pell seems to be moving towards a more aggressive and Progressive style. “Hear You Calling Me” is quite similar to later and heavier mid-tempo rockers such as “Follow the Sign” and “Ride the Rainbow”. “Call Her Princess” is mostly a heavy riff oriented song, despite the ode to stripper style lyrics and still enjoys regular play at live venues on Axel Rudi Pell tours. “Wild Cat”, although lyrically another sexual anthem to a pretty Vixen, is a fine piece of early Speed Metal work. “Don’t Trust the Promised Dreams” is the closest thing to an Axel Rudi Pell epic to be found on here, although it lacks the epic feel and sounds more like a heavily riff oriented mid-tempo song. The lyrical direction gives an indication of more thoughtful things to come and the musical middle section gives hints at Axel’s fascination with Eastern mysticism.
This is essentially a solid 80s Glam Metal album that unlike the Glam outfits of the late 80s actually has the riffs and the attitude to qualify as Metal. It is nonetheless an overtly 80s album precisely because it was recorded in the 80s. If you like bands such as Dokken, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Accept, and Warlock then this album will treat you well! It’s a lot different than the albums that followed it, but is still a good listen!!
SPV/Steamhammer, 1989 (SPV 84-7610). Made in Germany. Re-press.


Tracklist:
1. Wild Cat 3:39
2. Call Of The Wild Dogs 3:51
3. Slave Of Love 4:36
4. Cold As Ice 6:21
5. Broken Heart 5:04
6. Call Her Princess 3:19
7. Snake Eyes 5:13
8. Unchain The Thunder 3:31
9. Return Of The Calyph From The Apocalypse Of Babylon 0:51
10. (Don't Trust The) Promised Dreams 6:28
Total playing time: 42:53 min.

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