Axel Rudi Pell’s Best of – Anniversary Edition marks the 10th anniversary of Pell’s band in its current incarnation. It is a compelling retrospective from this accomplished guitarist. From the opening track, “Edge of the World,” through the closing strains of a masterful cover of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” this Best of – Anniversary Edition showcases the masterful guitar work and superior musicianship of Axel Rudi Pell and his band.
With his career as a guitarist beginning in 1980, the evolution of two decades found Pell with a core band that showcases the best of what Pell and heavy metal have to offer. American vocalist Johnny Gioeli entered in 2000 for the production of “Oceans of Time” and Masquerade Ball, setting the stage for most of the tracks featured in this Best of – Anniversary Edition. Pell’s guitar work on lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars with Volker Krawczak on bass, Ferdy Doernberg on keyboards and Mike Terrana on drums and percussion produce track after track of excellence that earns them a place on some of the world’s premier stages and in your record collection.
All twelve tracks in Axel Rudi Pell’s Best of – Anniversary Edition penetrate beyond any expectation of artistic indulgence into true artistic excellence. Pell puts his best asset forward with the fretwork leading off with “Edge of the World.” From that platform Pell goes on to hook his audience with the melodic leads of “Carousel.” And while the term blazing guitar riff is cliché, Axel Rudi Pell’s performance on this track could have given birth to the phrase.
Make no mistake – it’s about the guitar, but this great guitarist demonstrates that to be the best you must surround yourself with the best and so he brings together exceptional songwriting, vocals, keyboards, percussion and bass to set the stage for one of the most solid track for track offerings in the heavy metal genre. With the emphasis here on artistry, Pell reaches beyond fans of the genre to fans of all great forms of music.
Exceptional musicianship is pervasive here. Lyrics alternately display youthful arrogance, introspection and the inevitable anger. Gioeli delivers flawless vocals ranging from the menace of “In the Air Tonight” to a balladic ode to the infamous cyclists with “Forever Angel.” Rapid riffs and leads reverberate from Pell’s guitar as Krawczak showcases his mastery on bass, Doernberg adds a dramatic layer with his keyboards and Terrana proves himself track after track as a world class percussionist.
Axel Rudi Pell’s Best of – Anniversary Edition distinguishes itself as a compilation album that has the structure and sustained excellence to stand on its own for each and every track. If you’ve collected every offering this artist has put forth, you’ll still want this one plugged into your system. And if you’ve never heard of the artist that is Axel Rudi Pell, now is the time to give it a listen and add a true master of his genre to your collection.
Terry Martinez - MuzikReviews.com Contributor
September 12, 2009
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