Axel Rudi Pell – Knight’s Call
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Here’s the deal with Axel Rudi Pell. Axel and Company are like your favorite burger place. No matter how long you wait between visits you can always be guaranteed it’s the best burger you’ve ever had. Sometimes the formula may stray and results may vary in a burger that wasn’t as good as the last one. Well this time around, ARP has grilled up a masterpiece with Knight’s Call that would have the Iron Chefs themselves crying in defeat. Ok, now I’m hungry. Where was I? Oh yeah, Axel Rudi Pell.
When I was first introduced to ARP back in 2010 with The Crest album. My first two thoughts were, “I love this fucking music” and “ This fucking singer is blowing my goddamn mind.” While I knew nothing of ARP, I was surprised to find that the vocalist was none other than Hardline vocalist Johnny Gioeli. That album was the perfect album for me to hear at that time because at that moment, I was being bombarded by screaming bands such as In This Moment, Killswitch Engage, and any other fucking loud, obnoxious screaming imbeciles that were putting out music.
What ARP brought to the table was the classic metal that I fell in love with as a kid. ARP was all about standard tuning, Fender Strats into a wall of Marshalls, and a singer that embodied the spirit of great metal singers like Ronnie James Dio and Bruce Dickinson. Over the years ARP would put out a few albums that just seemed to slip through the cracks for me for one reason or another. Maybe it was that they weren’t quite as good as the previous ones. You know, like someone messed a bit with the recipe and burgers just didn’t site right with me. The magic moments Live album was something spectacular that really put ARP back on the map and with this year’s release Knight’s Fall, it’s safe to say that the secret recipe has returned and is better than ever.
Knight’s Call opens with a signature overture of sorts called “The Medieval Overture” which I love. It’s like heavy metal foreplay. They come in all cozy and slow and then all of the sudden “The Wild and the Young” kicks in and it’s a Power Metal tour de force from there. This song resonated with me so much. Maybe it’s because as an older man I can look back on being young and remembering those innocent days when the only thing that mattered was going to shows and buying our band’s favorite albums. “Wildest Dreams” (not to be mistaken for Iron Maiden’s song) is another one that really tugged at my heartstrings and just made me smile reminding me that no matter how old we are, we are never too old to dream and to chase those dreams.
“Long Live Rock” is just a good ol’ metal anthem that while it’s been done a million times, ARP pulls it off, in my opinion, better than Doro Pesch who’s iconic for this kind of song. Sorry Doro, I love ya but ARP kinda beat you at your own game on this one. “The Crusaders of Doom” was without the show stopper on this album. The intro just took my breath away and reminded me of Rainbow meets Dio with a hint of Deep Purple thrown in to sweeten the pot. This song was so perfectly placed in the album that it’s almost like I feel like this was the song I was waiting for even as much as I loved the other songs. “Beyond the Light” was a very unexpected piano, guitar, and vocal track that blew my mind just as the full band kicked in to drive it home. Hearing Axel’s guitar playing dialed back so sweet and tuneful showcased his ability to not be a typical egotistical “look at me, more is more” Yngwie type.
All in all, I will stand by my statement that Knight’s Call is, so for, Axel Rudi Pell’s finest achievement. A 28 year career and 18 albums, Axel Rudi Pell has put out his best work to date and is showing no signs of running out of fuel. It’s almost as if he’s tapped into something really special with this album that still sounds youthful, full of live, and true to the spirit of heavy metal. As usual, the album is perfect produced, perfectly executed and I have to say that bringing Bobby Rondinelli on drums a few years ago brought a much needed organic sound to the band and his sound really shines through on this album. Finally, Lead singer Johnny Gioeli is without a doubt of metals most sadly overlooked vocalists. The man is a powerhouse but ya know what? He couldn’t be any more at home than with ARP in my opinion. He is what takes these songs to that ethereal place that makes you want to go there with him.
If ARP keeps this up, we’ll be hearing more music from these guys for maybe even another 20 years. Knights Call sounds like a band that is just touching on their sound yet after 28 years, they’re still able to tap into the spirit of this music and make a truly spectacular album. Its albums like this that make me excited and happy to be a fan of a band and Knight’s Call is just the album I needed at this time. It’s the album that heavy metal in general needs and it’s a way more important album that I think most people realize. All great things grow from the underground and Knights Call is becoming a blooming tree that will stand long after those before them are gone.
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