AXEL RUDI PELL - "GAME OF SINS" (2016)

AXEL RUDI PELL - "GAME OF SINS"
(Running time: 64:21 minutes; 11 songs)
("Steamhammer" & "SPV"; 2016; CD):

So guys, back again, doing what I use to do up here, yes, and so next post, next record review, and next... okay, okay, okay... I'm about to trick you with this one because before a next new 2017 album will be reviewed by me for you up here I'll anyhow do a review on another 2016 album "just" because, yes, damn it, I have this one now already sort of one-and-a-half year and I finally want to get the review on it done and after this month is sort of an "unofficial-official" (Hard) Rock/(Heavy) Metal month (more or less...) up here this certain or particular album is also a perfect match to the current "monthly theme", and, yes, so here we go again (-but you can be sure about that the next review up here the coming days will be one on a 2017 album, definitely, trust me): Here now comes my review on the 2016 full length release "GAME OF SINS" by the german legend(s) AXEL RUDI PELL for you, okay, it was released @ the 15th of January of 2016 via "STEAMHAMMER" and "SPV", yes, and for all what I know it's still the current proper full length album of/by AXEL RUDI PELL because since "GAME OF SINS" so far 'only' a sort of a compilation (?) album titled "THE BALLADS" was released more or less recently this very year, yes, and so you see that there's still anyhow enough of justification to still do a review on it up here for you anyhow anyway. So, okay, with this 'general-information-talking' out of the way let us now have some more precise and intense looks and 'listens' on and in AXEL RUDI PELL's "GAME OF SINS", the 16th full length album in sort of over 25 years. AXEL RUDI PELL and 'his crew' deliver here on and with "GAME OF SINS" again a 'brilliantly' done heavy and stunning as well as also a 'larger than life' very hymnal and melodic/symphonic Hard Rock (or Heavy Rock) album close to the border of/to Heavy Metal and it's crossing this thin border more than just one time. A very unique and 'stunningly' hard and heavy yet 'fantasticaly' melodic and symphonic guitar work with a strong (very) own character to it all and pretty much sort of highest skilled done, yes, rich on variations, very diverse and working in a 'compositorial-damn-great-way' a lot of different and varying moods, emotions, and tones/tonings into the songs as well as also great 'twists-and-turn' and smart changes; and, yes, I'm pretty sure you guessed it already so far and if you did/do so you would (have) be(en) right with thinking, saying, and stating that the guitar work is the definite keyelement of the music and songs of/by AXEL RUDI PELL and so also on "GAME OF SINS" and this (one more time again) in a very impressive way the guitars are delivering a just outstanding strong and also nicely diverse and varying rhythm work full of grapping arrangements and rousing a massive load of tension all the way, yes, and then above all shine the truly larger than life guitar leads and guitar solos and they are also adding to the very own and pretty or very unique character of AXEL RUDI PELL's music and this in a massive way. Also adding up to this all and also doing this in a massive way are the phenomenal strong lead vocals that also shine in a very self-contained/independently (bright) light and have a very own tone/toning and so also a very own character and are also just done 'impressively' strong. The rhythm section is then the final precious gem that "GAME OF SINS" offers to us all, yes, and the harsh and definitely stunning, dustdry, and bonecracking heavy and very tight and consequent to the point played yet very dynamic and diverse performance of bass and drums really "just" conquer and this in an absolutely impressive and massive, yes, 'simply' totally conquering way and style. The atmospheric arranged and working keyboard also is 'just' absolutely pure gold. That the "musical delivery" is 'just' absolutely top notch and definitely highest skilled should need no further explanations and so I won't babble on and on about it. To or about the songwriting I more or less said some lines above (when I was praising the outstanding "trademark-guitar-work") quite a bit and so I will here and now just say that it is nothing but grapping and exciting, intense and emotional'n'atmospheric, very tight and also very dynamic, yes, and definitely also very diverse and varying, pretty multi-layered and offering a lot of (very) precious treasures to discover while the level of power and energy is always very high, no matter if we get soulful ballads, heavy rockin' stompers, epic masterpieces, catchy anthemic hymns, or hard slashers, yes, so for sure the quality as well as the intensity is always very high. A big load of great lyrics, a fantastic beautiful artwork, and a first class production sound finally round it all succesfully up. The whole album is a damn great piece of art and music and so I am really not so sure if listing my favorite songs here and now for you as sort of "informations-where-to-start-your-journey-to-discover" the "GAME OF SINS" by AXEL RUDI PELL but if you're really interested in it then I'll name you the (al)mighty "FIRE", "SONS IN THE NIGHT", "GAME OF SINS", "LOST IN LOVE", "THE KING OF FOOLS", "BREAKING THE RULES", and the breath-taking and amazing cover version of BOB DYLAN's almighty "ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER" (the bonus on the limited (?) digi pack version of the album, that I thankfully call my own), so maybe start your "discovering journey" of AXEL RUDI PELL's "GAME OF SINS" maybe first with the here mentioned songs, yes, all true and pure great ones. Any fans of AXEL RUDI PELL definitely (so I am very sure) have (and love) "GAME OF SINS" already for quite a while since it was released one or one and a half year ago and so I don't need to praise it anymore to you, yes, but to any Hard Rock (or Heavy Rock) and also Heavy Metal fans out there that maybe still don't have or even know AXEL RUDI PELL's "GAME OF SINS" I can only highly recommend this truly great album and so you best go out and get your hands finally on a copy of it as soon as possible, yes, because otherwise you would really miss out on one hell of a top notch release; so, yes, now just go and get it. And I'm already stoked and pretty excited for the new AXEL RUDI PELL album  to finally be released and maybe I'll also finally grab a copy of "THE BALLADS" album that I've mentioned above one (soon) day, yes, and maybe you should do so, too.

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.axel-rudi-pell.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

AXEL RUDI PELL - "FIRE" /live\ (2016, "GAME OF SINS")