Axel Rudi Pell

Axel Rudi Pell

Axel Rudi Pell - Shadow Zone (SPV)
It's interesting that as soon as "Shadow Zone" kicked in, it immediately brought to mind any one of 80's LA lizard Ron Keel's old bands- you know, quasi-mystical master shredder classing up what is basically glammy street metal- because when I checked the bio, I found out that ol' Axel here was a founding member of Steeler, but not Keel's Malmsteen-infused Steeler, but the German version. Coincidence, or cosmic rock and roll meta-surgery? Who knows, but the ARP band, despite the Euro roots, would fit in nicely on one of those hairspray shed revival tours, sandwiched, let's say, between Odin and the Sleez Beez. Without a trace or irony or a single post-Maiden influence, ARP certainly got the title right, since this band really does seem to be lurking in some dusty shadow zone where Nirvana, never mind Limp Bizkit, never happened. I should be so lucky.