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AXEL RUDI PELL AND FRIENDS - MAGIC MOMENTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

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    Horace Cordier
    Senior Member

  • Axel Rudi Pell & Friends - Magic Moments - 25th Anniversary Special Show



    Axel Rudi Pell & Friends - Magic Moments - 25th Anniversary Special Show
    Released by: Steamhammer
    Released on: April 28th, 2015.
    Purchase From Amazon

    Axel Rudi Pell has been at this metal game for a while. Following up on last year's excellent "Into The Storm" studio offering, the German axeman has unleashed this live mega set. This is a 25th anniversary show and loaded with special guests. It also has a DVD and Blu ray counterpart, but we'll be focusing on the cd version here.

    The disc opens with four tracks from Axel's first band STEELER with opener "Call Her Princess" being the highlight. This is nuts and bolts 80's German steel with speedy riffs and chunky drums. Pell's later material played here after he went solo like "Nasty Reputation" and "Warrior" tends to get more melodic and ornate in line with a vintage RAINBOW sound. The remainder of the first disc focuses on the first part of Axel's career with vocalists Rob Rock and Jeff Scott Soto making guest appearances.

    Disc two is with the current band and has a heavy emphasis on their last couple of CDs. The epic "Into The Storm" and speedy "Burning Chains" with great vocals from current frontman Johnny Gioeli are the highlights. Gioeli is a card on stage and very funny. There's definitely a classic euro metal vibe going down here. Another cool moment is the live rendition of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" which gets a surprisingly elegant presentation. Nice keyboard work and great drumming from legend Bobby Rondinelli too.

    Disc three sees the party in high gear with special guests galore and a feast of cool cover versions. Rondinelli and Vinny (BLACK SABBATH) Appice kickstart this portion with an amusing drum battle. Too many great moments after that to list here but I got a huge kick out of Graham Bonnet belting out RAINBOW'S "Since You've Been Gone" and Doogie (Michael Schenker) White having a go at DEEP PURPLE's "Mistreated". Bonnet, Doogie and keyboardist Tony Carey whip out a killer "Long Live Rock N' Roll" as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio and ex-URIAH HEEP belter John Lawton does a good rave up on ZZ TOP's "Tush". The whole thing ends with a chaotic but highly enjoyable mega jam with every special guest on stage banging their way through 'Smoke On The Water".

    The DVD/Blu is probably more fun but the audio alone is still hugely entertaining. Any fan of trad metal should love this set. The special guests are great and the set list is first rate. This is both a great intro for new fans and a feast for the devoted.

    Highly recommended.


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