Mystica

Yet another album by German guitar superstar Axel Rudi Pell, Mystica delivers...well, pretty much what every previous Axel Rudi Pell album has delivered. Pell is comfortable enough with his impressive chops that he doesn't have to do the whole God of the Fretboard routine that so many European metal guitarists are saddled with, so his albums are refreshingly light on the pyrotechnics. He does have a fondness for the pretentiously titled instrumental, however, so here listeners have "Haunted Castle Serenade (Opus #4 Grazioso e Aggresso)" and "The Mysterious Return (Intro)." Otherwise, this is utterly straightforward, by the book melodic hard rock in the '80s poodle-hair style, complete with former Hardline singer Johnny Gioeli's pleasant but utterly anonymous vocals. If you still treasure your Scorpions and Rainbow albums, Mystica is sure to please, but those whose taste in metal has progressed beyond 1987 might find this unapologetically old-school stuff too retro for their tastes.