My guess is that Axel Rudi Pell is the most prolific artist we have ever had here. Since 2017’s “The Ballads V” there have been eight reviews here. Ok, most albums were compilatons of ballads and selected materials, but there were new albums with original material as well.
As it is the routine about Mr. Pell’s albums, there is a guest. I almost fell from my chair when I heard his voice and I could not believe it. I initially thought vocalist Johnny Gioeli was trying to give his voice some more grit, but soon I realized I was so wrong. No wonder it is Udo Dirkschneider who co-sings “Breaking Seals” with Johnny Gioeli. No need to say this the best song of “Ghost Town.” There was great chemistry between the two, believe me. Aside from that, album tittle “Ghost Town“ made me realize Mr. Pell’s guitar sound is distinguishable from other guitarists due to the blend of cadenced phrases with incredibly fast ones. It is fair to say that this track has the indelible touch of Mr. Pell’s songs. Very few guitarist mix both techniques. Mr. Pell does it with flying colors.
“Ghost Town” is Mr. Pell’s new release of originals only with an intro called “The Regicide,” which is the deliberate killing of a monarch (king or queen) or the person responsible for such an act. Often associated with violent political change or revolution, the term can also describe the judicial execution of a sovereign. Nice name for a Metal song, if I may say. It opens the way for the priestian flavored “Guillotine Walk“ which I thought would be about Louis XVI, king of France during the French Revolution, but it is about any man who’s been sentenced to death reflects on his wasted life and is on his way to the scaffold. Of course, following his own tradition, there is the ballad “Sanity.“ By the way, Mr. Pell’s is so unique that he re-releases his ballads in albums as the aforementioned “The Ballads V.”
It is interesting to realize how tight, and untouched, Mr. Pell’s band is as its formation is the same of the last album 2024’s “Risen Symbol.“ By the way, this is the same line-up since 2018’s “Knights’ Call,” the first album of originals only we reviewed here. This is a very are situation regarding to guitar virtuosi.
Undeniably, it is fair to say, “Ghost Town” has Mr. Pell’s touch to please all his hardcore fandom which is huge, by the way.
Axel Rudi Pell “Ghost Town” will be released on March 20th via Steamhammer.
Track Listing:
01. The Regicide (Intro)
02. Guillotine Walk
03. Breaking Seals (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
04. Ghost Town
05. Holy Water
06. The Enemy Within
07. Hurricane
08. Sanity
09. Towards The Shore
10. Steps Of Stone
11. Higher Call
Watch “Ghost Town” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!