Axel Rudi Pell - Circle Of The Oath 2012

Axel Rudi Pell – Circle of the Oath 2012

I wish  there were specific term for Axel Rudi Pell music. Maybe ballad metal or sad metal can do some of them. This is to give justice for what he had done in the last twenty years over 15 metal albums he produced. This week, Circle of the Oath is another example of “don’t fix ain’t broken thing”. For those who never listen to Axel (if such person exist) here is your one other chance.  For diehard fans, that wait anxiously, can rejoice now because the album, Circle of the Oath 2012, is… still the same album Axel live and breathe with. The same level of guitar riff, the same slow handed melodies, he had presented to us last in September 2010 on The Crest and is continued here. Waiting for his album is just like waiting for the sequel of very long novel he authored.

But wait, the intro track Guillotine Suite actually is something 0.001% new, a fresh melancholy guitar to prepare our self. Then the real opening Ghost In The Black is actually something different, heavy and fast tempo song.  And then the third track is yet another improvement, Run With The Wind, this song had been leaked on Youtube many days before the album releases. Only the choruses is still the same familiar chorus. Getting to the middle part of the album, seems like Circle of the Oath indeed Axel trying to do something new, forth track Before I Die sounds slightly hard rocking. Then come the title epic Circle Of The Oath, this nine minutes tracks can actually concluded the album at this point. And tells the direction this album is indeed more than what we expected, the song itself slightly country rock (?) into Axel music and runs on a slightly exotic – oriental scale. Interesting now. Axel "only" filler are the last three tracks left. And then the band doing something really cool, the cover of  The Temple of the King! Perhaps my most satisfaction on this album, especially on how nice the vocal and guitar do the adaptation on this classic.

Singer Johnny Gioeli has developed the best trade mark for Axel music. Mostly his vocal are what the best thing to enjoy by me. Beside Axel, Mike Terrana is the most well known musician there, Mike presented confirm that although Axel music is … simple, still attracted world class player to delivered it. Usage of synth and keyboard mastery also thicker here than previous works. Trivially all the other members are actually the same guy played with Axel over more than ten years. Maybe playing same tunes best kept friends.

For everyone who need a little break from Axel, there present slightly interesting point where Axel put in effort to write something away from his comfort zone.  This album sounds more "happier" and fast compare to his before. But overall, Circle of the Oath really designed to hypnotized previous listeners with another Déjà vu of metal.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Axel Rudi Pell - Circle Of The Oath 2012

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01. The Guillotine Suite (Intro)

02. Ghost In The Black

03. Run With The Wind

04. Before I Die

05. Circle Of The Oath

06. Fortunes Of War

07. Bridges To Nowhere

08. Lived Our Lives Before

09. Hold On To Your Dreams

10. World Of Confusion (The Masquerade Ball Part II)

bonus: The Temple Of The King (Live)

Johnny Gioeli - vocals

Ferdy Doernberg - keyboards

Axel Rudi Pell - guitars

Mike Terrana - drums

Volker Krawczak – bass

Cover Art and Graphic Design