AXEL RUDI PELL – Shadow Zone

The blond German guitar wiz with the split ends releases his ninth studio album, with the same formula as ever. Axel has found this formula to be a good and pleasing one, so who can blame him? This time around, the material is a bit on the slower side, which was not what we needed from someone who a few years ago put out another ballad compilation. So the man’s next release might be a third ballad compilation? (It will more likely be a DVD by the way.)

As usual, there are a handful of great riffs, lots of guitar magic, rockers, mid-tempo and slow stuff, all with Johnny Gioeli’s great voice on top. There’s nothing wrong really – I just think that Axel’s two previous studio efforts are in a higher league. There are clearly Ritchie Blackmore inspiration in Axel’s music, but that doesn’t bug me much, as every guitar player out there should be inspired by the moody one. To conclude, the fans will like it, though I myself think this is not the man’s greatest hour, but as long as you please the ones who buy your records and come to the shows – Axel has done that, and that’s what it’s all about.