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MelodicRock.com Reviews


AXEL RUDI PELL
SHADOW ZONE
SPV
Produced by: Axel Rudi Pell
Released: OUT NOW / Website
Relatives: Yngwie Malmsteen, Hardline
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 90%

  1. The Curse Of The Chains (Intro)
  2. Edge Of The World
  3. Coming Home
  4. Live For The King
  5. All The Rest Of My Life
  6. Follow The Sign
  7. Time Of The Truth
  8. Heartbreaker
  9. Saint Of Fools
  10. Under The Gun

There is something comfortingly familiar about putting on a new Axel Rudi Pell album. Retaining the same line up that has feature on his last 2 albums prior to this, plus the Ballads and Best Of compilation. (drummer Mike Terrana didn't play on Oceans Of Time)
Notably that line up features the great Johnny Gioeli of Hardline, who has really found himself at home singing on Axel's sometimes epic and intense tracks.
This album follows the same pattern of the last 2 - 10 tracks - one track being a shorter instrumental intro - and several of the songs clocking in over 7 and 8 minutes.
The sound this time is a little different. Axel's guitar style and sound is certainly a little different and I found that enjoyable. Johnny Gioeli is in fine, faultless vocal form and the rhythm section is tight as ever.
Opening track Edge Of The World kick ass in typical fashion, double kick drums blazing and guitar shreds throughout.
The epic Live For The King is a bit more atmospheric than usual and All The Rest Of My Life is a true epic ballad. Run those 2 tracks together and it takes 16 minutes plus to move to the rocking Follow The Sun.
It's an album that you have to run through from start to finish, not skip and jump your way through.
BOTTOM LINE: The standard of the alst 2 albums was high and given that this album is no departure from that, I find it hard to pick a favourite. Nor do I have to go over the sound and texture of the album.
I don't think I should have to - if you liked those, you'll like these.
It's not rocket science - it's great solid European hard rock.
PRODUCTION: 90% SONGS: 90% VIBE: 90%ATTITUDE: 90%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All long time Axel fans and fans of Hardline's Johnny Gioeli.
DISCOGRAPHY:Wild Obsession . Nasty Reputation . Eternal Prisoner . Ballads . Between The Walls . Made In Germany . Black Moon Pyramid . Magic . Oceans Of Time . Ballads 2 . The Masquerade Ball . Shadow Zone



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