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Risen Symbol

    
       
       
       
     
             
Axel Rudi Pell are a heavy metal & hard rock band from Germany formed in 1980 by guitarist Axel Rudi Pell, releasing twenty two studio albums across an incredible forty five year career - the bands twenty second (and most recent) album 'Risen Symbol' emerging in 2024...    
             
...featuring ten songs across an hour of absolute power and precision! Axel Rudi Pell the band, which I'll now refer to as ARP to avoid any confusion with Axel Rudi Pell the man, musician and metal icon, are on fucking fire - every song on 'Risen Symbol' is infectious and just what the doctor ordered! The band line-up is guitarist Pell, vocalist Johnny Gioeli (Enemy Eyes), bass player Volker Krawczak, keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg (Rough Silk), and drummer Bobby Rondinelli (ex Black Sabbath, ex Rainbow) - the five-piece outfit delivering a magical blend of metal and rock! And when I say magical, there's two outstanding magical moments on offer, a sensational ten minute long composition and a breath taking cover of one of the most iconic, well known and genre defining rock songs ever - more on both of those later! For right now, 'Risen Symbol' is brought to life with the one and a half minute effects laden, crescendo building, highly anticipative instrumental intro 'The Resurrection'...    
             
...with all hell breaking loose courtesy of the barnstorming, and quite frankly neck breaking 'Forever Strong'. ARP are at full tilt here, storming on at an incredible rate of knots, the level of head bang ability shooting right through the fucking roof! The pace, power and urgency is phenomenal, the band capturing the attentions of every single metalhead around the world, 'Risen Symbol' marching on with 'Guardian Angel'. A more melodic, power metal aura descends upon the album here, ARP switching gears and genres from the previous song, yet losing nothing of the mighty infectious level the album has oozed since it began. A truly sensational opening double salvo from an iconic metal band of the last forty plus years - becomes a breath taking triple as ARP deliver an unbelievable cover of rock icons Led Zeppelin's 1970 classic 'Immigrant Song'. The original appeared on the British rockers album 'Led Zeppelin III', and was only two and a half minutes in length - this version by ARP is twice that, and is quite frankly one of the best covers of any song I've ever heard! So just sit back and listen to an amazing piece of music, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.    
             
Returning to original material, ARP delve deep into metal territory to thunder forth with the power driven mid tempo, incredibly melodious 'Darkest Hour' - featuring the classic guitar tone so synonymous with the legendary NWOBHM evolution. And let's be honest, why wouldn't the band emanate an age old sound? For ARP were around during the eighties when heavy metal was evolving into the glorious beast it is today - a beast that continues to stun, amaze and excite me as much (if not more) than it did when I first heard the likes of Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Samson and Saxon over four decades ago! And clocking in at over ten sensational minutes 'Ankhaia' is by far and away the longest song on offer, featuring everything from an atmospheric build up to a thundering furore of traditional, anthemic driven heavy metal with all the trimmings and the kitchen sink thrown in! And if you take the best epics from bands such as 'Maiden, 'Priest, Manowar and even Sabaton, none of them would ever hold a candle to 'Ankhaia'! Returning pace to the fore, 'Hell's On Fire' plants one foot firmly on the monitor to adopt the iconic pose of old school heavy metal, every listener, fan, follower and (ultimately) concert goer punching the air in pure delight at such a commanding song! ARP have been firing on all cylinders since 'Risen Symbol' began, and there's absolutely no sign of the band running outta fuel anytime soon!    
             
So with its engine purring like a finely tuned sports car, ARP roar on with the Whitesnake like 'Crying In Pain' - the British hard rockers bluesy metal edged style of rock oozing outta 'Crying In Pain'. Not to mention the immense anthemic come ballad nature too, the reined in power level bursting to be set free - ARP doing a superb job of holding it all in! Can this album get any better? You bet your bottom dollar it can, 'Right On Track' changing through the gears to power on with a tonne of bombast and punch! And to be honest, 'Right On Track' is the most punchy song on offer, the oomph off the fucking charts as ARP thunder on with 'Taken By Storm' - bringing the album to a close with a mesmerising blend of changing tempo's, pace and atmospheres! The band also return the anthemic nature of heavy metal to the fore too, 'Taken By Storm' hitting harder than any other song on offer - ARP with their latest album have literally, taken the world by storm!    
             
Overall, a superb album of heavy metal, 'Risen Symbol' is incredibly infectious and highly head bang-able.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
Review is also featured at Metal-Roos    
             
             
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