The Masquerade Ball

Artist: Axel Rudi Pell
Label: Steamhammer Us [Spv]
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 693723216928
EAN: 0693723216928
ASIN: B00004T92N

Release Date: 2000-06-06

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Metal

Listmania:

AXEL RUDI PELL - MASTER OF THE AXE
GOOD NEW METAL CD`S OUT THERE
My Favorite Heavy Metal Albuns
15 METAL CD'S THAT MADE 2000 GREAT!!!

Tracks:

The Arrival (Intro)
Earls Of Black
Voodoo Nights
Night And Rain
The Masquerade Ball
Tear Down The Walls
The Line
Hot Wheels
The Temple Of The Holy
July Morning

Similar Items:

Oceans of Time
Shadow Zone
Kings & Queens
Black Moon Pyramid
Magic

Customer Reviews:

See the Wizard Fly.......2006-02-08

I typically don't have much patience for guitar hero metal. I've always been a "vocals first" kind of guy. Whenever I attempt to listen to an Yngwie Malmsteen album I'm always impressed by the man's technical prowess and solos, but I'm also always disappointed in the actual songs, which appear to be simply vehicles for those solos; this despite Malmsteen's access to a never-ending supply of phenomenal vocalists. Likewise I tend to enjoy Symphony X albums more for Russell Allen's powerful vocals than Michael Romeo's blistering guitar work, and was a Dokken fan long before I realized that George Lynch was a better guitar player than most of his peers.

That being said, I am an Axel Rudi Pell fan. While he does follow Malmsteen's example in naming his band after himself and has a penchant for extended guitar solos and epic song titles, the man has a considerable amount of songwriting ability that Malmsteen is sadly lacking. I'm not necessarily talking about lyrical content here, as Pell's tend to be somewhat silly in a European-writing-awkwardly-in-English kind of way. See for example, his ode to fast cars that is unfortunately named after a toy line. I'm referring more to his songwriting structure. Pell's songs seem like actual songs. The verses, chorus, and yes solos, all mesh together the way a good song should. The Masquerade Ball is a prime example. The guitar solos are there, but you can also get into the music and sing along to just about every song, particularly album-opener Earls of Black and the epic title track. There is also an inspired cover of Uriah Heep's classic July Morning.

The Masquerade Ball really works as an album, and a lot of the credit has to go to former Hardline vocalist Johnny Gioelli, who provides a heartfelt and powerful delivery to each song, even when the lyrics get a bit cheesy. He was good on other Axel Rudi Pell albums like Shadow Zone and Oceans of Time, but really seems to shine on this one.

Fans of the aforementioned Yngwie Malmsteen should find much to enjoy in Axel Rudi Pell's work, particularly this album. I'm also reminded of Rainbow, but that may be due to the Dio-like earnestness of Gioelli's vocals. The Masquerade Ball should appeal across the board to fans of traditional metal and melodic hard rock as well.

Awesome!!!.......2004-05-31

by far,this is the best album by the german guitar wizard.axel is just always able to top his previous amazing albums.

1.the arrival

this is such a powerful and dark intro,without drums and bass.just listen to it,you will love it even though itýs just 1:30 length 10/10

2.earls of black

best track by far.simply flawlees,the drums kick ass and the slow guitar part in the middle just makes you melt down 15/10

3.voodoo nights

a bit slower but also very good. a heavy rocker with great guitar work. 9/10

4.night and rain

nice semi-ballad,very strong and powerful.shows perfectly the melodic side of axel. 9/10

5.the masquerade ball

the title track is another out-standing song,epic epic epic!!!
awesome guitar work again,special mention to johnnyýs vocals and ferdyýs keyboards. 10/10

6.tear down the walls

very good song,too.a must play for every live album,makes the ground shake 10/10

7.the line

good song,you could call this a semi-ballad,too.also very powerful but at the same time so melodic 9/10

8.the temple of the holy

this is an amazing ballad,almost a solo of johnny.strong voice and soooo melodic,goes right underneath your skin 10/10

9.hot wheels

this could easily be a motorcycle driver anthem.fast paced and very rough. 9/10

10.july morning

this is a cover of deep purple.special mention to ferdy and his great work at the keyboard.drags on a bit at the end but itýs agood effort 9/10

all in all,this is axel's masterpiece,every song is great.
if you like this one,check out shadow zone and between the walls.

Fine work but not his best.......2003-09-29

This is fine melodic heavy metal, well beyond the average American output (I still am looking for jewels there, the Scandinavian heavy metal scene seems more promising though), yet I am spoiled by Axel's more recent "Shadow zone" which is flawless. The high points on the cd under review are the 10 minutes "Masquerade ball" and the
great ballad "In the temple of the holy". With minimal instrumental background it's essentally a 7 minute solo for the singer Gioeli, though no dull moment there!
I haven't heard a singer that good since Freddy Mercury.

Axel keeps on getting better and better..........2000-08-08

I became an Axel Rudi Pell fan just over 5 years ago, when I discovered a dusty copy of "Eternal Prisoner" in a local record shop. Since then, I have purchased most of the back catalogue plus the newer albums, and each one seems to get stronger than the last. This excellently produced CD contains some memorably catchy rockers with great hooks ("Voodoo Nights and "Tear Down the Walls"), two superb 'power ballads' ("Night and Rain" and "The Line") and some heavier material ("Earls of Black", "Hot Wheels"). The title track contains some wonderfully moody keyboards interspersed with Axel's virtuoso guitar. And, to round out the album, ARP has done a marvellous cover of the Uriah Heep classic (and one of my all-time favourite songs), "July Morning" (although the outro keyboard solo could have used a bit more variation, making it reminiscent of the original with Manfred Mann at the helm). Still, Johnny Gioeli has a fabulous voice, Axel is a truly outstanding guitarist, and the rest of the band complement these two well. An excellent rock album, certainly one of the finest that will be released this year.

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