Sound - Dolby 5,1 Surround Sound & Dolby 2.0
Picture: 4:3
Axel Rudi Pell has just released his fourteenth album "Knights Live", which is a live recording from Bochum on 5 May 2002. The first DVD contains a filming of the same show.
Several cameras are filming the live sequence making it very enjoyable. The producers have placed an overhead camera on Mike Terrana's drumkit making the drum solo quite entertaining to watch since Mike Terrana is very fast.
Axel Rudi Pell is making his Ritchie Blackmore's posture standing on the side of the stage. The Blackmore comparison is underlined by Axel Rudi Pell also playing Fender Stratocaster plus the inclusion of sequences from
Stargazer and the riff from
Man on the Silver Mountain. The great song
Fool Fool might as well been written by Ronnie James Dio both musically and lyrically.
The co-star of the show is singer Johnny Gioeli. His stage presence is very energetic and his strong vocal fits perfect into Axel's music. The strong voice of Gioeli and Axel Rudi Pell's playing is making a great cocktail of music. Just listen to the epic
The Clown is Dead with Johnny Gioeli sounding like a million dollars and Axel playing an amazing guitar solo.
Most of the songs are long epic songs. The show lasts for 110 minutes, but only 11 songs are played. We get both a drum and a keyboard solo, but funny enough no separate guitar solo. Axel is not so ego minded that he blows off a long solo also. However, I would have loved to hear some more songs from the 2 Johnny Gioeli albums and some more in your face rockers like the brilliant
Nasty Reputation.
All in all a great performance starring Axel's amazing playing and Johnny's vocals. The song selection spans through Axel Rudi Pell's entire career. I love the fact that the recording is 100 percent live with no overdubs. All band members look like they have fun transferring this chemistry to the viewer.
DVD 2 includes approximately 100 minutes of special features.
The interview section is mainly Axel Rudi Pell talking about his entire career from his band days in Steeler and commenting on his solo albums. Furthermore Axel is commenting on inspirations like Dio, Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. There are also interviews with the other band members with a highlight on a quite entertaining story about how Axel tracked down Johnny Gioeli after Jeff Scott Soto left.
Besides, there are interviews with fans and friends after the live performance in Bochum. Unfortunately this sequence is in German only, but the message is clear. They all love Axel's album and the all agreed on that the show was "Sehr gut" "Geil" or the ultimate "Super Geil".
Also included is a 34-minute feature about the making of Axel Rudi Pell's 2002 studio album "Shadow Zone". Basically this is showing the guys in the studio recording the album. Each individual is recording their part separately in the studio. A definite highlight is when Johnny Gioeli is brought in to add the vocals. Because Axel is the composer he is singing Johnny the melody line before the recording. Thank god that Axel Rudi Pell doesn't sing on his albums. His vocals are so weak that I think he sounding just as bad as myself.
The viewer also gets a good introduction to Axel Rudi Pell's guitar style. During the recordings he is fond of switching pick up on his Stratocaster several times during a solo. The atmosphere in the studio is very relaxed. The songs are not finished, but they take shape in the studio.
A minus about this studio clip is the lack of subtitles since it is in German (except for Johnny Gieoli and Mike Terrana of course). The filming is not very professional. There is a small clip with Axel showing off a line of his guitars and the cameraman is just standing still. So after guitar 4 or 5 you cannot see the guitar clearly or hear Axel's comments clearly.
On the other side it is underlining the relaxed atmosphere in the studio. The clip rounds off with some band photo and Johnny Gioeli entertaining with a version of the Barry Manilow musical
Copacabana. He seems to be a swell guy.
The music video from Steeler is not too exciting. Axel describes it as a learning period for him. The other video is
Cry of the Gypsy featuring Jeff Scott Soto. The video shows the band performing in a setup with studio clips.
After watching this DVD you are left with the impression of an engaging Axel Rudi Pell. The atmosphere from his album covers is transferred to the DVD. The menu has a dark character and when choosing sequence a big loud crashing thunder is released.
Knights Live is a "super geil" DVD.
Rating: 6.5/10Written by
Michael Sunday, February 23, 2003
