• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Axel Rudi Pell: Game Of Sins

Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

Website Facebook
SPV/Steamhammer Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.01.2016

There is little doubt that Axel Rudi Pell is an exceptional guitarist and prolific songwriter. His talent and work ethic have few equals. And he keeps churning out new material. Game Of Sins is Pell's latest creation.

Axel Rudi Pell and Band

As to be expected, the album is about those two things: Pell's song writing and guitar skills. Massive amounts of riffs abound, and guitar solos fly from his fret board like New Year's Eve celebration. Yet, some might find the sound of Game Of Sins, somewhat harder, heavier, maybe even a bit harsher. You get that from Pell's riffs but also Johnny Gioeli's vocals. To me, he sounds like he wants to channel Ronnie James Dio, but only in a more harsh and screamo way. Otherwise, even with these rougher characteristics, the songs abound with melody and groove, with Pell ripping off his monumental solos. When the aggregate of things work together some songs stand out, including Falling Star, Lost In Love, and The King Of Fools. Yet, honestly, much of this just ran together for me, became redundant. The riffs, Pell's guitar sound, never seemed to vary. Gioeli's presentation got old, too. After awhile, I merely felt that I was being yelled at in each song. There's a bonus track, a cover of All Along The Watchtower, written by Bob Dylan and made more famous by Jimi Hendrix. Suffice to say, Pell wails on his guitar with skill. Otherwise, I wasn't overly impressed by his interpretation. Adequate. Which probably defines the whole of Game Of Sins. If you're a guitar enthusiast, even a Pell fan, you'll likely enjoy this album.

Share This Review with Your Friends

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Adequate probably defines the whole of Game Of Sins. If you're a guitar enthusiast, even a Pell fan, you'll likely enjoy this album.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]