More of the same on a stoic level - A review of Axel Rudi Pell's Knights Call

Every second year, German heavy metal guitarist Axel Rudi Pell and his band members release another album. The structure is always quite alike. The album covers are quite atmospheric and colourful and often make historic or mythologic references. In most cases, the record comes along with a beautiful poster of the cover artwork and a detailed booklet. Each album includes one or two short instrumentals conveying and epic and majestic atmosphere. In addition to this, the band delivers between eight and ten regular tracks. Most of them are mid-paced stompers with one or two more melodic epics and an occasional ballad in between. From time to time, the band also offers a cover version of an old rock song, in most cases in form of a bonus track. These albums are always enjoyable to listen to but rarely memorable because they always stick to the same old formula. 

This is also the case for Knights Call. In this particular case, I find Knights Call a little bit more consistent than Game of Sins but less passionate than Into the Storm. The vocals are as great as usual, the organic production is really great but the instrumental work is bland at times, especially the drum play. It's the type of album any collector and fan of the band will appreciate for its solid trademark sound. Occasional fans who already own a studio release, live record or even compilative effort don't really need to get this record because it only offers more of the same. 

There are still a couple of noteworthy songs on this album. The epic closer ''Tower of Babylon'' develops an exotic atmosphere with its decently employed Middle Eastern folk elements. The slow stomper ''Crusaders of Doom'' is another track with epic proportions carried by a stoic rhythm section, enchanting guitar harmonies and melodic vocals recalling groups such as Rainbow and the band's other epic hard rock heroes from the seventies and eighties.

There isn't a truly terrible song on the record but some tunes are so formulaic that they make me cringe. ''Long Live Rock'' is a stereotypical as its title and turns out to be the predictable rock anthem the band delivers on nearly every record as if it had to remind itself why it's still churning out melodic hard rock records every second year. ''The Wild and the Young'' is quite similar in style and topic if slightly faster and even more nostalgic. It's not a bad song but about as interesting as listening to grandfather's stories about the war for the eighteenth time.

One has to admire Axel Rudi Pell's stamina and despite its obvious flaws, I like the artist, the band and even this album. Once a band has earned my respect, I'm quite faithful to the group. Subjectively, I enjoy listening to Knights Call from start to finish because you get exactly what you expected. Objectively, this album is however as creative as a ham sandwich. On the other side, it's almost comforting to witness a band sticking to its same old formula while some things in the world keep evolving dangerously. Sometimes it's reassuring to stay in your comfort zone and Axel Rudi Pell's Knights Call is like that old comfortable couch in your living room where you can chill while watching a movie, reading a novel or play a game. To keep it simple, if hard rock of the late seventies and heavy metal of the early eighties are your favorite types of music, you will enjoy Knights Call for sure. If you want to listen to anything that sounds as if it could have been released within the past thirty years, don't even bother.

Final rating: 72%