AXEL RUDI PELL - "KNIGHTS CALL" (2018)

AXEL RUDI PELL - "KNIGHTS CALL"
(Running time: 58:12 minutes; 10 songs)
("Steamhammer"/"SPV"; 2018; CD):

Oh boy, is this little piece here'n'now now already long, long overdue, yes, for a really damn pretty long while now already anyhow'n'anyway but, okay, finally here it is, yes, my record-review on the new AXEL RUDI PELL full-length-album "KNIGHTS CALL" released at the 23rd of March of 2018 via "STEAMHAMMER"/"SPV" on CD and LP, yes, and it is in sort of 30 years of the band's existence now already the 17th album released by AXEL RUDI PELL in sort of in a 'straight row'. Two years ago in 2016 AXEL RUDI PELL released "GAME OF SINS" and conquered me pretty much completly with it and so I was more than very happy and damn curious when I finally got "KNIGHTS CALL" in my mailbox the day it was finally released and, yes, again AXEL RUDI PELL conquered me massively and this time in 2018 even more than with the fantastic "GAME OF SINS" back then in 2016. (I did my review on it up here last year in August of 2017, so why not read it as well.) On and with "KNIGHTS CALL" AXEL RUDI PELL deliver us again a huge dose of this/their very unique style of heavily by crispy and cutting Heavy Metal fueled hard hitting, sharp whipping, heavy thundering and yet at the same time and especially and above all absolutely majestic, melodic, symphonic, and hymnal Hard Rock (or Heavy Rock) with a strong epic note to it all and that's still breathing here'n'there a fresh and very independently delivered and whirring and scenting RAINBOW vibe and this bred on huge doses of a nutritious honest and authentic Heavy Metal diet and all enriched and/or cultivated with that typical and very unique 'totally own' AXEL RUDI PELL identity that especially shines through, and this very bright and clear, in that special and unique guitar tone, vibe, and playing and in the rich and multi-facetted as well as multi-layered arranged and composed songwriting with that certain unique vibe that grants AXEL RUDI PELL's songs also and maybe especially even more on "KNIGHTS CALL" a very own chracter, note, and dynamic as well as a surely larger than life and epic identity, yes, and so any sort of 'further-going' comparisions to/with any other bands/artists would be and simply are nonsense and so I will spare me anything like this here and now. What is also total nonsense is the bullshit talking of 'If you know one AXEL RUDI PELL album you know them all.' because just by looking at "GAME OF SINS" from 2016 and "KNIGHTS CALL" in 2018 the differences are pretty clear, take for example just the much stronger focus on fresh and very alive-lively done impressions of 1970's Vintage Rock or Classic Rock and the very strong and present Hammond-Organ here on "KNIGHTS CALL" or that far more playful arrangements of the songs here on "KNIGHTS CALL" in contrast to the much more straight ahead metallic onwards rocking and herad-banging approach of "GAME OF SINS" to name just this two or three pretty obvious differences between just this two albums. Also, just by the way, a specific and own 'musical-character' and sticking true to/with it is not the same as repeating your own work again and again, yes, and I always thought that would be clear to anyone anyhow… or shoul be, at least. Beside this expect with AXEL RUDI PELL's "KNIGHTS CALL" an album that's nothing less'n'but incredible rich on/in facets and heavily diverse and filled with great and multi-layered rhythmic arrangements and stunning varying pace work and much, much more, yes, and all really, really fresh and alive-lively done and delivered and full of exciting and grapping twists and turns all along the ride from start to finish and that's packed to the max with huge and honest emotions that blissfully shower you in goosepimples again and again withpout end or stop, oh hell yeahr, very diverse and masterly skillfull on all levels. Brilliant and highly rousing guitar work delivering fantastic riffs and in general absolutely larger than life and massively forceful rhythm arrangements as well as absolutely breathtaking leads and truly majestic-masterly solos absoultely to the max and all with a fantastic epic approach to it all, yes, surely the biggest trademark again here on and with AXEL RUDI PELL's "KINIGHTS CALL". The fantastic and highly skilled and charismatic lead vocals surely are next to be named, as well as here on and with "KNIGHTS CALL" especially the fantastic Hammond-Organ. The punch- and powerful bass and the smashing drumming then only back it all massively up and this in a damn fantastic way, yeahr, and all pushed onwards by very forceful galloping rhythmic accentuations. Strong and thoughtful as well as interesting lyrics and a pure gorgeous beauty of an artwork, and a truly heavy bombing hard and clear widescreen production-sound then finally round it all up. AXEL RUDI PELL delivered with "KNIGHTS CALL" not only one of the very strongest albums in their already 30 years spanning career but also one of the clear highlights of and in and for 2018 and this without the slightest single doubt and so to any Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fan out there I can only calmly, clearly, and enthusiatically recommend this fantastic and brilliant, masterly album, yes, and so if you are into the above mentioned target-group and really still don't have or even know AXEL RUDI PELL's "KNIGHTS CALL", why the damn fucking bloody hell ever, you should change this finally as soon as possible, point and fact.

(10 of 10 points)

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

AXEL RUDI PELL - "THE CRUSADERS OF DOOM" (2018, "KNIGHTS CALL")