Review | Axel Rudi Pell – Ghost Town

Steamhammer / SPV

With the precision of a Swiss clock guitarist/composer/producer Axel Rudi Pell returns with his 23th (!) studio-album ‘Ghost Town’. Accompanied by his loyal co-musicians Johnny Gioeli (vocals), Bobby Rondinelli (drums), Volker Krawczak (bass) and keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg Axel brings his fans another taste of his classic rock, inspired by greats such as Rainbow, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix and (a shot of) Black Sabbath. Throughout the years there was the constant criticism that his music and his sound was repetitive. If you would play all his albums in a row I think you would not say that so quickly. But hey, Axel follows his own musical path, like it or not.

STEADY CAREER

A lot of people must like what he is doing. How do you otherwise explain 23 studio-albums, a bunch of ballad albums plus live records and DVD’s? And that all under the flag of Steamhammer/SPV. I already stated that a record company looks at results and sales otherwise you do not stay with one company since his first album ‘Wild Obsession’ that came out in 1989. It is what I call a steady career.

SOLID AND STRONG

‘Ghost Town’ is yet again a solid and strong album. The band performance is a tight as can be. Every musician knows what is expected. The way the album is built up might be a bit predictable perhaps. An instrumental intro followed by two hammer hard rockers (,,Guillotine Walk’’ and ,,Breaking Seals’’), some up-tempo (,,Hurricane’’), some mid-tempo material, an epic ballad (,,Towards The Shore’’), a slow atmospheric track (,,The Enemy Within’’) and then some stuff right in between. A special appearance is made by mister Udo Dirkschneider who sings a duet with Johnny Gioeli on ,,Breaking Seals’’. Predictable built up or not, nobody can go past the fact that ‘Ghost Town’ is an album with eleven strong songs.

AXEL RUDI PELL – THE CONCLUSION

Add to that the very powerful production and heavy sound and it is safe to say that Axel and his companions have done precisely what their fans expected of them. They delivered a melodic metal album that will easily consolidate their so careful built reputation as one of the most trusted rock-outfits that Germany has ever produced. Axel Rudi Pell always delivers, also in 2026 and for the future ahead.

Release date: 20 March 2026