AXEL RUDI PELL – Into The Storm (2014)

* Limited Editon Digipak – check Comments!

“Into The Storm” is AXEL RUDI PELL fifteenth studio release with his own band, and it is fitting that his silver anniversary release is one of his strongest. He is joined on this album by many familiar names: vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, and bassist Volker Krawczak.
Due to scheduling conflicts drummer Mike Terrana left the band, but Axel found a more than excellent replacement; ex- Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath Bobby Rondinelli, a musician who can be named as one of the most underrated skin bashers still alive.

You may like or not Axel’s musical style, but an artist of his calibre that remains active and successful in the scene for more than 25 years – especially in this day and age – deserves some respect. He still hangs the ‘sold out’ sign at grand venues and his records are one of the most purchased on physical format.
Prove of this is that “Into The Storm” will be available on CD (standard and Limited-edition digipak), double gatefold LP with colored vinyl, digital download, a box including merchandising, etc.
Well, talking about the music packed in “Into The Storm”, Rudi Pell probably generated one of his most metalized Rainbow-like albums of his career. In overall, the song structures are quite similar to Rudi’s earlier releases, meaning hard pounding songs of hard n’ heavy, a power ballad, a cover and an epic majestic ending to close down the wall.
Nonetheless, “Into The Storm” introduced a kind of quality and atmosphere that are surreal. To my ears, this new recording features more explosive guitars, more solid vocal performances, more well-crafted songs, more of everything that has allowed the German guitar virtuoso to stay on top of the game for more than a quarter century.

Pell’s paramount ability to write catchy and anthem kind of songs that easily penetrate into any hard rocker soul, this time seem to have been reinforced by a more dynamic space for the arrangements and a sparkier production.
From the bestial metal riffs of “Tower of Lies” and the razor sharp hooks of “Long Way To Go”, to the soft piano strains and muti-layered vocals on the ballad “When Truth Hurts”, Pell & Co. prove that they have not lost their edge or their creativity despite delivering such a massive catalog of music.
The band’s vast experience shows not only in the songwriting an quality of performance, but also in the production and mix technique. The sound is crisp and clear – edgy when it suits the music, melodic and subtle when the track calls for the other end of the audio dynamics.

“Long Way To Go” is the true showpiece of the album. Axel’s guitars – both solo and rhythm, are big and clean, and the well traveled Johnny Gioeli make evident he still is a monster of a vocalist. Doernberg, Krawczak and Rondinelli (with great fills) complete the song perfectly, giving it a sturdy backbone.
“Burning Chains” lets Gioeli stretch his range, while Axel lets his guitars take more of a backup role to the driving precision of the rhythm section (although Pell’s lead break is staggeringly good).
The 7 minute plus “Touching Heaven” has a bit of an old school feel to it yet features modern flourishes, and the band’s remake of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey My My” is one of the better covers of this song ever done (with Gioeli’s vocals as the high point).
The epic title track is simply that: epic. Although turned out to be gradually monotonic right up to its end, undoubtedly rocks with very good atmospheres through some Arabian / desert infused journey of clandestine and mystery.

Axel Rudi Pell never disappoints, and “Into The Storm” is one of his best recordings. It is true that Pell isn’t turning tables, keeping to his formula that has been bringing him only success and achievements.
However, this disc towards a bit more to foundational British Hard Rock stylings. Somehow the music on “Into The Storm” is fresh and new, yet it feels immediately familiar, another step on the sonic journey led by one of the true greats in the hard rock / metal world.
To paraphrase the covered artist here (Neil Young), Axel Rudi Pell ‘has not burned out’, nor shown any signs of fading away.
Very recommended to all fans of melodic classic guitar driven rock ‘n roll.

01. The Inquisitorial Procedure
02. Tower Of Lies
03. Long Way To Go
04. Burning Chains
05. When Truth Hurts
06. Changing Times
07. Touching Heaven
08. High Above
09. Hey Hey My My
10. Into The Storm
11. White Cats [Opus #6 Scivolare] (Digipak Bonus Track)
12. Way to Mandalay (Digipak Bonus Track)

Johnny Gioeli – Vocals
Axel Rudi Pell – Guitar
Ferdy Doernberg – Keyboards
Volker Krawczak – Bass
Bobby Rondinelli – Drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Into-Storm-Axel-Rudi-Pell/dp/B00G0RTXAA
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