Axel Rudi Pell started his solo-career after leaving Steeler. Despite an ever evolving line-up, this is still considered more of a band. Axel Rudi Pell is a driving force in the neo-classical metal genre, influenced and inspired by the likes of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen.

WILD OBSESSION (1989) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

'Wild Obsession' was Axel Rudi Pell's first solo-effort, after his departure form Steeler. It does not contain the melodic neo-classical metal he is famous for these days, but rather a more 80's melodic metal sound, not unlike Steeler, Ratt or Dokken. This does not mean that I dislike this album, far from so. But I like his newer efforts even better. Singer at this time was Charlie Huhn (ex-Gary Moore, ex-Victory). He does an OK job, but can't be compared to any of the vocalists that would be involved with Axel Rudi Pell on later occasions. Jörg Michael (later to join Running Wild, Stratovarius and others) plays drums, and Volker Krawczak (also from Steeler) plays bass. A good 80's metal album, and a fine addition to the collection.

Killer tracks: Call Of The Wild Dog, Cold As Ice, Hear You Calling Me

NASTY REPUTATION (1991) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

You sort of always know what to expect when you get an Axel Rudi Pell album, yet you always find every album to be a tad different from the rest. 'Nasty Reputation' sees Rob Rock enter as vocalist, and as expected, he does a great job. The music is a bit rougher than on the last album, and we also get a fantastic 10 minute plus epic track in "Land Of The Giants". Still we're talking mostly 80's melodic metal all the way. Catchy and easy to sing along to! I still prefer the albums with Johnny Gioeli on, but I've no problem putting this one on and enjoying the whole hard rockin' album too. "When A Blind Man Cries" is a fine cover of a rather obscure Deep Purple track (Axel's influences from Ritchie have always been pretty obvious). Rob does an outstanding job singing it.

Killer tracks: Nasty Reputation, Wanted Man, Land Of The Giants

THE BALLADS (1993) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

'The Ballads' was to be the first in a series of "unusual" compilation CD's from Axel Rudi Pell. Instead of releasing a regular greatest hits album, they released a collection of their best ballads.

I bought this CD after I bought 'Oceans Of Time' and 'The Masquerade Ball'. I loved the ballads on those two records, and thought this was a cool way to hear more. 'The Ballads' is much more then a collection of songs already on the regular studio albums though. It contains 6 exclusive tracks, where 1 is a brand new song ("You Want Love"), 2 are cover songs (Rainbow's "Tearin' Out My Heart" and Alphaville's "Forever Young"), 2 previously unreleased versions of "Broken Heart" (1 demo version recorded before 'Wild Obsession', with Karl Holthaus on vocals, and 1 instrumental version), and a song leftover from the 'Nasty Reputation' session ("Falling Tears"). Of the 4 remaining tracks there are 2 instrumentals, a cover of Deep Purple's "When A Blind Man Cries" and the ballad from the previous album, 'Eternal Prisoner'.

All in all this is a cool release that doesn't get nearly as much play as the regular studio albums. But as a collector's item, it is a must because of all the exclusive tracks.

BETWEEN THE WALLS (1994) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

'Between The Walls' is the 4th full-length album from Axel Rudi Pell. Rob Rock was replaced by one of Yngwie Malmsteen's many throats, namely Jeff Scott Soto. His voice is a little rougher than the warm, smooth Rob Rock. Of course, if you are already familiar with the many bands or constellations he has appeared with, you know that he is a good match for Axel's Rainbow-inspired metal too. Everything about this album is a guitar-wizard cliché. The lyrics talk about gypsies, outlaws and far-away lands, the guitar is crying, weeping, speeding, riffing and doin' all kind of acrobatics, and the bass, drums and keys are there just to keep the rhythm, and to create a backdrop for the vocals and guitars. Heck, the song "Warrior" even sounds like the Rob Rock/Impellitteri/Driver song with the very same name. But as boring and uninventive this may all seem, it is still great music! Thanks to Pell's ear for melodic metal, it is impossible to grow tired of his songs. He is showing all his songwriting talent on 'Between The Walls', creating enough dynamics both within each song, as well as on the album as a whole. The epic "Casbah" is one of the man's finest moments. If I wanna listen to some softer stuff, Axel Rudi Pell's albums are what I often return to. And 'Between The Walls' is as good a record as any.

"Wishing Well" is a song originally recorded by Free. It has been covered numerous times, and one of the co-writers, Paul Rodgers, was also doin' the song live with Queen.

Killer tracks: Cry Of The Gypsy, Casbah, Outlaw

BLACK MOON PYRAMID (1996) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

'Black Moon Pyramid' is Axel Rudi Pell's 5th studio album, and the second one to feature Jeff Scott Soto on vocals. The line-up is the same as on the last 2 records. That's a first for this band.

For whatever reason I didn't like this album as much as the rest of their catalogue at first. But listening to it again I cannot by the life of my understand why! This is a phenomenal record, with enough memorable songs to fill 2 CD's. The band members have been together long enough to really gel. This is perhaps also the first album where Axel Rudi Pell has found his own signature sound. The earlier ones were more straight up melodic metal. But here the neo-classical influences shines through a lot more. The strange thing about Axel is that his signature is bringing alive an almost dying guitar art. In a time when Blackmore is occupied with creating medieval music, and Yngwie is... well, being Yngwie, Axel is still delivering that 70's guitar wizardry to a hungry mass. And with Jeff Scott Soto wailing on vocals, one cannot not like what is going on on this silver disc. OK, I admit that I personally could have done without 1 or 2 of the 4 instrumentals. But when the rest of the songs are so darn catchy, all I can do is to surrender to the beautiful melodies, and succumb to the awesome playing.

'Black Moon Pyramid' delivers epic, neo-classical metal at it's best, right down to the lyrics and even the cover art. And the covert art is worth taking an extra look at. Marc Klinnert's art is as essential to an Axel Rudi Pell album as Andreas Marschall is to a Running Wild album.

Killer tracks: Gettin' Dangerous, Touch The Rainbow, You And I, Silent Angel, Black Moon Pyramid

MAGIC (1997) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

Now this is more like it! The German guitar-wiz and band delivers a fine effort indeed, the first one in a long never-ending row of stellar neo-classical metal albums. I find that they really have fine-tuned their style with 'Magic'. This is the Axel Rudi Pell I started to like, and still do. So while I to a degree enjoy his older material too, this marks the start where I truly love most of the songs. And who wouldn't when you get the magical title track (pun intended,) and epic songs like "The Clown Is Dead"? I could listen to stuff like that for days! Do yourself a favor, if you haven't already, give Axel Rudi Pell a chance.

Killer tracks: Nightmare, Magic, The Clown Is Dead, Prisoners Of The Sea, Light In The Sky

OCEANS OF TIME (1998) SPV

'Oceans Of Time' was the very first Axel Rudi Pell-album I bought, after hearing "Ride The Rainbow" on a Scream Magazine CD-sampler. New vocalist, Hardline's Johnny Gioeli, sends shivers down my spine. Although Jeff Scott Soto and Rob Rock  are excellent, Johnny is in a league above both (oh well, maybe not above Rob). Even the instrumental is listenable. Melodic neo-classical heavy metal at it's best. A MUST!

Killer tracks: Ashes From The Oath, Oceans Of Time, Ride The Rainbow

THE BALLADS II (1999) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

In 1999 Axel Rudi Pell released the second installment in the 'The Ballads'-series. Up until this point he had yet to release a regular compilation album, so this was the closest thing to such an effort from him.

The idea behind these releases is pretty cool, in my opinion. Power ballads were always popular with the mainstream, radio listening audience, and here you get an albums worth of them. And since several different line-up's of the band are represented on these CD's, it's almost as though you're listening to somewhat different bands. 'The Ballads II' doesn't hold as many unreleased songs as its predecessor. But there are still some gems here as well. "Come Back To Me" and "I Believe In You" are brand new songs, recorded in late 1998. The band also recorded yet another new version of "Broken Heart" (that makes it the 4th version, so far!), and a new, acoustic version of "The Clown Is Dead" (originally from 1997's 'Magic'). The cover of Jimi Hendrix' "Hey Joe" was previously only available on the Japanese version of 'Black Moon Pyramid' (1996). Axel is doin' the vocals himself on this closing track. These tracks makes this CD essential for collectors'. But I also love to sit back and listen to all the great ballads collected on 1 album with over 70 minutes worth of material. .

'The Ballads II' is another fine addition to the series, and to my Axel Rudi Pell collection.

THE MASQUERADE BALL (2000) SPV

Axel Rudi Pell continues in the same vain as previously. This album is just as great as 'Oceans Of Time'. He even skipped the instrumental this time. A bit more metal on this, I guess, but the melodies are still there in plenty. "July Morning" is an Uriah Heep cover. Mike Terrana is now the drummer for Rage, and has also played with Metalium.

Killer tracks: Earls Of Black, Tear Down The Walls, The Masquerade Ball

THE WIZARDS CHOSEN FEW (2000) SPV (2-CD)

CD1: Broken Dreams Carousel The Masquerade Ball Ghosthunter Oceans Of Time Still I'm Sad Come Back To Me Burn/Purple Haze/Call Her Princess (Live '98) Total Eclipse (Opus #2 Allegro E Andante) - instrumental Eternal Prisoner CD2: Fool Fool Casbah Snake Eyes (Live '95) Mistreated (Live '95) Magic The Clown Is Dead Nasty Reputation Land Of The Giants Hear You Calling Me

Truly a great 'best of' album. This has it all; the obvious hits, 2 new songs, cover-songs and live-tunes. The only sad thing, is that my CD is a promo-copy, and therefore I fear that I'm missing out on a cool booklet. "Total Eclipse" was previously only available as a bonus-track on the Japanese edition of 'Magic'. It contains a guitar-duel between Axel Rudi Pell and Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween). "Burn" is a Deep Purple-cover, "Purple Haze" is a Jimi Hendrix cover, "Mistreated" is a Rainbow-cover. "Still I'm Sad" also appears on the 'Holy Dio' tribute CD, and was originally recorded by the Yardbirds!

KINGS AND QUEENS (2004) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

Axel Rudi Pell have become one of the most consistent artist in the metal scene. You always know what you get when you pick up a new album by them, and yet that is not meant in a bad way. His name is synonymous with quality in my book. And that is the case with 'Kings And Queens' too. The overall feel of this album is outstanding. 'Kings And Queens' might even be one of his strongest efforts ever. It keeps growing on me each time I listen to it. And by now, I am completely in love with all of the tracks on the album. I just never grow tired of the voice of Johnny Gioeli, simply one of the most overlooked vocalists in today's scene, or the melodic guitar assault form our German hero. And one look at the names of his backing band should tell everyone that this guy doesn't fool around. I'm already looking forward to my next meeting with Mr. Pell and his group of melodic metal comrades. Definitely a contender on the 2004 Top 20 list.

Killer tracks: Strong As A Rock, Forever Angel, Legions Of Hell, Sailing Away, Take The Crown, Sea Of Evil

DIAMONDS UNLOCKED (2007) STEAMHAMMER/SPV

Every respectable artist records at least 1 covers album during a long career it seems. Now it's long time German shredder Axel Rudi Pell's turn. The album opens with a short intro, blasting into a great song, originally done by Riot (how many bands have used "Warrior" as a song title by now?). But already on the next tune, Axel is showing his diverse taste in music. "Beautiful Day" is a cover of the U2, and a great one at that. Here in Norway most people know this song from our World Idol winner, Kurt Nilsen. He does a great version of it also, but the slightly metalized version, with Johnny's amazing vocals, is amazing! "Stone" by Chris Rea has also been given a makeover, and here it sounds more like something off of Axel's 'The Ballads' albums. But then things are starting to happen. An acoustic ballad version of the Kiss classic, "Love Gun", is up next!! Lunatics or geniuses? You be the judge! Michael Bolton might not be someone you'd expect to hear a cover of on a metal band's album. And if I had my saying, they would have refrained from doin' so! Nothing against Mr. Bolton myself (remember, that's where Bruce Kulick got things started!), but this song is just boring. Free's "Heartbreaker" is up next. But by now everything is starting to sound like second rate Axel Rudi Pell leftovers to me. So the Montrose song is easily left unmentioned, although the original is quite the rocker. But then my attention is once again peeked. Covering Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" might not be an obvious choice. And again it's Johnny's magnificent voice that makes this song a standout. I'm not even sure I've heard The Mission before, and I'm not going to remedy that after hearing Axel's take on "Like A Child Again". The album ends with the classic "Won't Get Fooled Again", by The Who. And while it's virtually impossible to ruin such a great song, I have no need for an "upgraded" guitar-solo, Axel Rudi Pell-wise in it either. I'm a little surprised that there are no Ritchie Blackmore songs here though. Other than that, this is an ok covers album, but far from an essential one.

Axel Rudi Pell guest appearances:

Rob Rock - 'Eyes Of Eternity'

V/A - 'Holy Dio - A Tribute To The Voice of Metal: Ronnie James Dio' tribute

Rob Rock guest appearances:

Powergod - 'Bleed For The Godz - That's Metal Lesson 1'

Laudamus - 'Lost In Vain'

Frost - 'Raise Your Fist To Metal'

Jeff Scott Soto guest appearances:

Stryper - 'Against The Law'

Laudamus - 'Lost In Vain'

Ferdy Doernberg guest appearances:

Powergod - 'Bleed For The Godz - That's Metal Lesson 1'

Powergod - 'Long Live The Loud - That's Metal Lesson II'

Related artists:

Steeler, Rob Rock, Stratovarius, Roland Grapow, Running Wild, Metalium, Joshua, Angelica, Warrior, Impellitteri, Rage, Yngwie Malmsteen, Avantasia, Unleashed Power/U.P., Rough Silk, Saxon, Masterplan, Zillion, Fires Of Babylon