Germany has long been the breeding ground for several talented acts (SCORPIONS, DORO, KREATOR, HELLOWEEN, ANGEL DUST, GAMMA RAY, PRIMAL FEAR quickly come to mind) and some of these names have done really well in the melodic side of Hard Rock and Metal. Add heralded German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell to the list and you get one of the best players in the game. Pell is no stranger to the scene and his credentials span nearly 20 years in the business.

Now Pell and his band are back in full swing yet again with their new album, "Tales Of The Crown", a ten-song effort filled with emotion, soaring melodies, and bombastic rhythms. It will come as no surprise really to fans who know what to expect from Pell and his comrades, as they really follow their traditional style and throw in some surprises here and there to make things even more enjoyable to the ear. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Pell has managed to maintain a steady lineup for the last eight years or so (Johhny Gioeli - vocals, Volker Krawczak - keyboards, Ferdy Doernberg - bass and Mike Terrana - drums).

Aficionados of true melodic Metal will find "Tales Of The Crown" to be among one of the best from AXEL RUDI PELL. "Higher" opens with a haunting intro before kicking hard into a hard steady rhythm driven by Pell's riff work and Gioeli's distinct voice. Pell's solo in this one will raise your skin as his fingers fly across the guitar. "Ain't Gonna Win" is a peppy tune, "Riding On An Arrow" is a great hard rocker, and "Buried Alive throws the shift into fifth gear with some fast, pounding double kick and blistering axework. The best song on this disc, however, has to be the soulful power ballad "Touching My Soul". Gioeli really puts his vocal chords to the test here, and Pell's solo strikes you right in the heart, even sounding very SCORPIONS-like in some parts.

Releasing 17 albums in 19 years of existence is an impressive achievement, and Pell is showing no indication that he wants to throw in the towel any time soon. Why would he? Older and wiser, he obviously has the experience behind him to be able to carry on into the future with no apparent difficulty, especially if he keeps the current lineup intact. "Tales Of The Crown" proves that Pell and Co. are still capable of creating powerful, inspiring music.