Band:	Axel Rudi Pell
Album:	Magic
Style:	Heavy metal, Power metal
Release date:	1997
Guest review by:	Baz Anderson

01. Swamp Castle Overture
02. Nightmare
03. Playing With Fire
04. Magic
05. Turned To Stone
06. The Clown Is Dead
07. Prisoners Of The Sea
08. Light In The Sky
09. The Eyes Of The Lost

Axel Rudi Pell seems to be somewhat of an "unsung hero" in the eyes of many people - the people that know his music, even though he would say otherwise himself, as he is a very modest person.
His solo band going now for over seventeen years and still seems to be somewhat unknown to many metallers.

Axel Rudi Pell doesn't play the most technical and complicated music ever. (Even though some is rather complicated) His style is more of one with a very strong melody and quite traditional and mature sounding.

"Magic" is Axel Rudi Pell's sixth studio album and is the last album before ex-Yngwie Malmsteen singer Jeff Scott Soto left the band after singing on the last four studio albums.

The album starts in true Axel Rudi Pell fashion with an introduction track and then gallops into the usual fast-paced opening song. On this album the fast-paced opener is the catchy "Nightmare" which is a perfect example of the faster side the band has, and also includes one of Axel Rudi Pell's many absolutely fantastic guitar solos.

This album has way more faster paced songs on it then any other Axel Rudi Pell album as you start to realise when faced with "Playing With Fire" next. "Nightmare" "Playing With Fire" "Turned To Stone" "Prisoners Of The Sea" and "Light The Sky" are all faster-paced songs, which is rather different for Axel Rudi Pell as all of his other albums are more ballad driven.

The album does have its ballads though, most notably the twelve-plus minute and Axel Rudi Pell favourite "The Clown Is Dead" which shows off some of his more elegant guitar playing and also Jeff's impressive singing.

This is probably Axel Rudi Pell's most accessible album, so if anyone that is not familiar with this guitar wizard's music then this is a good place to start. This album contains plenty of highly catchy songs and still with all the melody and beauty like all of his other efforts. I highly recommend to all!