AXEL RUDI PELL – XXX Anniversary Live (2019)
Hard to believe, but AXEL RUDI PELL‘s band is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Tomorrow they will be releasing “XXX Anniversary Live” to mark 30 years since the German guitarist released his first solo / band album.
This album wasn’t really planned – while he was on tour in October / November 2018 his sound engineer recorded several shows without the band being aware. He then gave the recordings to Axel Rudi Pell at the end of the tour and from that the idea to release a live album was born.
This does mean that the recordings are of the band doing what they do naturally – when the band know the show is being recorded for release that must make them think differently and maybe alter what they do as they think about the fact it’s being recorded.
The band are all in great form and it shows in the recording.
Vocalist Johnny Gioeli has been with Axel since 1998, and it’s obvious the musicians onstage as well as audiences at the shows appreciate his enthusiasm and delivery, be it material that he recorded for “The Wild and the Young” and “Long Live Rock” as well as older songs such as Black Moon Pyramid favorite “Fool Fool” and “Warrior”.
You know going in that Axel will gain his share of bluesy, shredding lead break spotlights, but he’s also cognizant of sharing that musicianship attention with his bandmates – as drummer Bobby Rondinelli delivers a solo during “Mystica” and keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg showcases his finger dexterity and adventure sounds for the opening sequence to “Game of Sins / Tower of Babylon” extended 16-minute plus medley.
Axel Rudi Pell already has some live albums out there, but “XXX Anniversary Live” is different.
It’s much more raw and ‘direct’, with Gioeli’s vocals not overdubbed and the guitars bite. This seems to have been somewhat dealt with in the mix though, and helps lend some credibility to a modern day ‘Live’ release. The band, overall, sounds tight and pounding, but still organic.
Great songs, great musicians: this baby Rocks.
Highly Recommended
01. The Medieval Overture (Intro)
02. The Wild and the Young
03. Wildest Dreams
04. Fool Fool
05. Oceans of Time
06. Only the Strong Will Survive
07. Mystica (incl. Drum Solo)
08. Long Live Rock
CD 02:
01. Game of Sins / Tower of Babylon (incl. Keyboard Solo)
02. The Line
03. Warrior
04. Edge of the World (incl. Band Introduction)
05. Truth and Lies
06. Carousel
07. The Masquerade Ball / Casbah
08. Rock The Nation
Axel Rudi Pell — guitars
Johnny Gioeli — lead vocals
Ferdy Doernberg — keyboards
Volker Krawczak — bass guitar
Bobby Rondinelli — drums
Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Anniversary-Live-Axel-Rudi-Pell/dp/B07Q9HLLLX
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