Masquerade Ball [Import]

Axel Rudi Pell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 4, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Steamhammer Europe
• ASIN: B00004SGH2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,691 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Cardboard slipcase and poster included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Axel keeps on getting better and better..., August 8, 2000

By 

JW (Wageningen Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masquerade Ball (Audio CD)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars See the Wizard Fly, February 8, 2006

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Masquerade Ball (Audio CD)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars european heavy metal at its best, June 12, 2000

By 

T. Grob (st petersburg, fl United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Masquerade Ball (Audio CD)

'The Masquerade Ball' by Alex Rudi Pell, is a wonderful heavy metal album. Johnny Giolei from the band 'Hardline' is the lead singer and his vocals soar on this album. Anyone that like bands like Whitesnake, Journey, or Night Ranger ought to give it a listen. Huge guitars, long epic type songs and beautiful strong vocals.