Search - Axel Rudi Pell :: Nasty Reputation

More teen rock anthem wannabes

Paul Lawrence | Australia | 07/25/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Rob Rock takes over vocal duties for this second effort of try hard anthems that plough an even more juvenile furrow than the debut in places. Mind you some of it works to a numbskull perfection. Nasty Reputation being a case in point. Fighting the Law would also work wonderfully too if not for the lyrics and Unchain the Thunder is exactly as you'd expect it to sound.



Pell's playing is still histrionic and actually that's no bad thing - hey he does it so you don't have to. It's hard to think of comparable acts - Pell producing such cliched slices of hard rock, so perfectly encapsulating a derided sound. The only thing that springs to mind is perhaps Seven Witches or Jack Frost albums because they are both so passionate and proudly uncool. And Pell and Frost can both play, even if the latter is heavier.



Elsewhere on this release we see Pell stretching out, covering Deep Purples When A Blind Man Cries and letting himself go a bit with the three part instrumental Open Doors. And the guitar work therein is somewhat of a departure for the man.



Overall a forgettable release unless you love it, Pell seeming to split many hard music fans perhaps more due to his percieved headstrong love of one dimensinal hard rock for the sheer joy of it. But if you like your rock straight up, without a twist, this may make your weekend."

Rock Solid Power Metal

Christopher C. Ryan | Florida, U.S.A. | 11/08/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hard hitting Power Metal from Axel & Co. Not the best CD he has done, but a totally solid effort. Guitars mixed way up front, big drums, screaming melodic vocals. Sits nicely aside latter year Accept CDs. Good Cd."