Axel Rudi Pell
Into the Storm
SPV/Steamhammer
2014
God knows, “Into the Storm” must be the 16th studio album for the German guitarist and the 28th overall release in his solo career that has been going on since the late 80s!!! We’ve all known that Germans are workaholics but I can’t help to think that Axel must be composing, even when he’s brushing his teeth, or god forbid, when he’s asleep! He never seems to stop! Can’t complain too much, other than sometimes some of the albums did tend to be rather similar. When the “template” was a great album ie “Magic” and the albums that followed it – (even though there was a switch of vocalists, back then... with Johnny Gioelli, managing to hold steadily the mic, for some 15 years, out doing all 3 of his predecessors, Rob Rock, C. Huhn and JSS...) the results were nothing sort of spectacular... but at other times not so much, bordering on borderline, boring.
“Into the Storm” doesn’t come to upset any long established traditions or balances as it offers the usual Rainbow inspired hard rock (‘n roll & power metal) a plenty! It just seems to take into account some things that reviews might have negatively commented on and possibly try to address them. Firstly it goes for a more “raw” production sound... I wouldn’t think it’s a matter of budget, it largely seems as if the band is trying to experiment a bit with the sound. Gioelli too, sounds just a little rougher, with age, but without losing on the range, just a bit more raspy, so this I guess a bit more heavy sounding, than usual, which is an interesting, experiment... secondly….
Following the rather typical keyboard laced intro “The Inquisitorial Procedure” I was half expecting a really fast double bass drum number... which is very typical of ARP album so imagine my surprise… almost my “horror” when...
“Tower of Lies” came out of the speakers, all rather mid-tempo (with the occasional impressive drum fill) and pompous! Ah, sacrilege! Who tied, the drummers other hand behind his back?! LOL! All in all a rather spectacular number with a nice riff, a catchy chorus, rich in melodies and atmosphere!
“Long Way to Go” has some very trademark licks, and the verses will slightly remind you of “Carousel” in all probability... but the chorus differentiates itself, so before you cry copycat...
“Burning Chains” is all fast and reminiscent of the 80s days with simple but effective riff and hook, more in tune with the early style of ARP even with his previous outfit. Impressive! You don’t really have to try too hard to get it right... just go for the gut feeling.
“When Truth Hurts” invests in Gioelli’s ability to give a ballad a real “life” of its own and Johnny boy, doesn’t really have to even try too hard. Just a little bit of guitar, some cello and his voice, belting out the lyrics manages to make this one of the more memorable songs on the album... with ease.
“Changing Times” has some pretty impressive lead intro and is quite dramatic! That main “theme” repeats itself again and the there’s a decent solo in there too. The unusual structure is quite refreshing I guess, when most of ARP’s songs tend to follow a more verse-chorus-solo type of structure, without even changing the order... sometimes, so this more adventurous and experimental idea, translates rather well into song.
“Touching Heaven” is another mid-tempo, heavy and not too “happy” slightly, disparaged song… but I suppose, while, there are some nice melodies and its chorus ain’t too bad, it might be a little too “ominous” and it’s a second “pretty dark” song in a row and after a ballad... so, it sort of tired me a bit...
“High Above” was to be the antidote to that… without, absolutely abandoning the style, or key selections of the album, it goes for a certainly more up-tempo approach and a more uplifting message... it even manages to mention “Rainbows”.... my... my….! (how surprising!)
Did I say my, my? Well ARP and co, decided to do... a Neil Young, number “Hey Hey, My My” with cello and everything… turning into a pretty awesome number, that you wouldn’t have known that is not “the band’s own” if you have not heard it before... (if you didn’t know) Really great cover, of a great song, awesome vocals and an awesome “overall mood/feeling/aura”...
Finally there’s the eponymous song “Into the Storm” a ten plus minute epic, that has some pretty cool melodies and performances (ie solos), but really takes it’s time to set up the atmosphere, (ie intro, ambiances) to the point where it could be called self-indulgent… the real song is not more than 5-6 minutes… so while, I was pretty positively disposed towards it, in the end it really fucking bored me! C’mon! It’s nice to make a composition atmospheric, but… not to the point where it becomes background music at times…!
The limited edition features two additional songs…
“White Cats (Opus #6 Scivolare)” a very nice and sensational instrumental that actually recycles a theme from the album and rocks it out and
“The Way to Mandalay” which might be known to many as a Blackmore’s Night tune, (which could well mean that it’s some rearranged traditional?) but here, we get a chance to hear a version with a male vocalist.... it doesn’t sound bad at all… I guess, and heck… I suppose, it would make many wish that Mr B, would really decide, to pick up the Stratocaster, proper once more…
Overall... “Into the Storm”, has ARP, delivering some good tracks, as per usual and some not so good ones, again... that’s not too unusual. Gioelli’s voice is a big selling point and probably the reason why he’s managed to stay in the biz for all these years… the good thing, is that there seems to be some “desire” to experiment even within the narrow confines of the “genre”... fans will probably be quick to add this to their collections, while others might not plunge headlong into the storm...
“Into the Storm” doesn’t come to upset any long established traditions or balances as it offers the usual Rainbow inspired hard rock (‘n roll & power metal) a plenty! It just seems to take into account some things that reviews might have negatively commented on and possibly try to address them. Firstly it goes for a more “raw” production sound... I wouldn’t think it’s a matter of budget, it largely seems as if the band is trying to experiment a bit with the sound. Gioelli too, sounds just a little rougher, with age, but without losing on the range, just a bit more raspy, so this I guess a bit more heavy sounding, than usual, which is an interesting, experiment... secondly….
Following the rather typical keyboard laced intro “The Inquisitorial Procedure” I was half expecting a really fast double bass drum number... which is very typical of ARP album so imagine my surprise… almost my “horror” when...
“Tower of Lies” came out of the speakers, all rather mid-tempo (with the occasional impressive drum fill) and pompous! Ah, sacrilege! Who tied, the drummers other hand behind his back?! LOL! All in all a rather spectacular number with a nice riff, a catchy chorus, rich in melodies and atmosphere!
“Long Way to Go” has some very trademark licks, and the verses will slightly remind you of “Carousel” in all probability... but the chorus differentiates itself, so before you cry copycat...
“Burning Chains” is all fast and reminiscent of the 80s days with simple but effective riff and hook, more in tune with the early style of ARP even with his previous outfit. Impressive! You don’t really have to try too hard to get it right... just go for the gut feeling.
“When Truth Hurts” invests in Gioelli’s ability to give a ballad a real “life” of its own and Johnny boy, doesn’t really have to even try too hard. Just a little bit of guitar, some cello and his voice, belting out the lyrics manages to make this one of the more memorable songs on the album... with ease.
“Changing Times” has some pretty impressive lead intro and is quite dramatic! That main “theme” repeats itself again and the there’s a decent solo in there too. The unusual structure is quite refreshing I guess, when most of ARP’s songs tend to follow a more verse-chorus-solo type of structure, without even changing the order... sometimes, so this more adventurous and experimental idea, translates rather well into song.
“Touching Heaven” is another mid-tempo, heavy and not too “happy” slightly, disparaged song… but I suppose, while, there are some nice melodies and its chorus ain’t too bad, it might be a little too “ominous” and it’s a second “pretty dark” song in a row and after a ballad... so, it sort of tired me a bit...
“High Above” was to be the antidote to that… without, absolutely abandoning the style, or key selections of the album, it goes for a certainly more up-tempo approach and a more uplifting message... it even manages to mention “Rainbows”.... my... my….! (how surprising!)
Did I say my, my? Well ARP and co, decided to do... a Neil Young, number “Hey Hey, My My” with cello and everything… turning into a pretty awesome number, that you wouldn’t have known that is not “the band’s own” if you have not heard it before... (if you didn’t know) Really great cover, of a great song, awesome vocals and an awesome “overall mood/feeling/aura”...
Finally there’s the eponymous song “Into the Storm” a ten plus minute epic, that has some pretty cool melodies and performances (ie solos), but really takes it’s time to set up the atmosphere, (ie intro, ambiances) to the point where it could be called self-indulgent… the real song is not more than 5-6 minutes… so while, I was pretty positively disposed towards it, in the end it really fucking bored me! C’mon! It’s nice to make a composition atmospheric, but… not to the point where it becomes background music at times…!
The limited edition features two additional songs…
“White Cats (Opus #6 Scivolare)” a very nice and sensational instrumental that actually recycles a theme from the album and rocks it out and
“The Way to Mandalay” which might be known to many as a Blackmore’s Night tune, (which could well mean that it’s some rearranged traditional?) but here, we get a chance to hear a version with a male vocalist.... it doesn’t sound bad at all… I guess, and heck… I suppose, it would make many wish that Mr B, would really decide, to pick up the Stratocaster, proper once more…
Overall... “Into the Storm”, has ARP, delivering some good tracks, as per usual and some not so good ones, again... that’s not too unusual. Gioelli’s voice is a big selling point and probably the reason why he’s managed to stay in the biz for all these years… the good thing, is that there seems to be some “desire” to experiment even within the narrow confines of the “genre”... fans will probably be quick to add this to their collections, while others might not plunge headlong into the storm...