German guitar maestro Axel Rudi Pell has released his 23rd studio album "Ghost Town" on March 20 via SPV/Steamhammer, further cementing his status as one of the most prolific figures in European melodic metal. The album spans 11 tracks across 55 minutes and features a special duet with legendary ACCEPT and U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider on the track "Breaking Seals".
The Dirkschneider collaboration is a meeting of German metal royalty. Pell's neoclassical guitar work intertwines with Dirkschneider's unmistakable rasp in a track that pays homage to the classic heavy metal tradition both artists have championed for decades. It is a highlight on an album that delivers exactly what fans of Pell's extensive catalog have come to expect — impeccable guitar work, soaring melodies, and a steadfast commitment to the classic heavy metal sound.
Pell produced the album himself, with engineering handled by Tommy Geiger at Blind Guardian Studios in Krefeld, Germany — a facility whose pedigree speaks for itself. The recording lineup features the reliable Johnny Gioeli on vocals, Bobby Rondinelli on drums — the former RAINBOW sticksman whose playing adds a touch of Dio-era grandeur — alongside bassist Volker Krawczak and keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg.
"Ghost Town" does not attempt to reinvent the wheel, nor should it. Pell has carved out a remarkably consistent career by perfecting a specific vision of melodic heavy metal, and his 23rd album continues that tradition with professionalism and passion. For fans who appreciate the timeless appeal of RAINBOW, DIO, and classic European power metal, "Ghost Town" offers another reliable chapter in one of the genre's most dependable discographies.