Alex Rudi Pell - The Crest

A little heavier edge is nice.There aren't many bands out there that are more consistent from release to release than Axel Rudi Pell.  Yeah, you might get a dud here and there, but for the most part you get a solid product every time.  Another thing about Axel, is that you pretty much know what your going to get every time - Good solid hard rock with a metallic edge.  Since Pell joined forces with vocalist Johnny Gioelli back in 1998, it seems like this guitar virtuoso has excelled as a song writer.  Gioelli's awesome vocal style fits Pell's songwriting to a "T".  ARP is as traditional hard rock, and metal as you can get.  His CD's are full of big catchy riffs, big choruses and smoking guitar solos.  The Crest is Pell's 14th studio album, and could very well be his best.

The Crest explodes with the uptempo rock Too Late, which sets the stage for the CD.  It is a heavy track with a great melody and a strong chorus.  The next track Devil Zone (My favorite), is a traditional metal track fueled by a killer riff.  Once the song kicks in from a mellow intro, Axel comes in with this driving guitar riff that sent me into a head banging frenzy.  It is one of those tunes that just makes the head bang and the fist fly in the air.  The next track is Prisoner of Love, which is destined to be a single on metal radio.  Its got the catchy melody and memorable chorus that will stick in your head for days.  The thing I love about this CD is the heaviness of it.  The majority of the songs are heavier and are mixed with a darker vibe, which is shown on the track Dreaming Dead.  All in all a very solid effort.  I think this could be the best CD Pell has ever put out.  Go get it!

Bottom Line:  Standard Pell, but with a welcomed heavier edge.

Standout Tracks: Devil Zone, Dreaming Dead,  Too Late and Burning Rain.

- Ragman is searching for buried treasure