By Vinnie Apicella

Not exactly your ordinary run of the mill collection of love songs… "The Ballads" offers something for listeners far more inviting from this renowned metal guitarist/lyricist that reaches new heights. Released back in '93, Pell, as many of his Teutonic peers, assembled a fine roster of contributing artists to fill his then band, most notably vocalist Jeff Scott Soto who ranks right near the top with Mike Vescera in the rent-a-singer department… and make no deference to the fact that neither is short of oncoming requests for their able assistance. A Pell original begins the listening journey, one that captivates the imagination while giving the heart just a little squeeze along the way, "You Want Love," before giving way to Alphaville's "Forever Young" given the full power-ballad treatment and Pell's neck throttling closing solo for that added boost. Along the way, Pell recalls many of his earlier workings, some vocal-less as "Dreams of Passion" follows from the "Eternal Prisoner" from '92, and his appreciation for the classical styling of one Deep Purple are brought into focus for "Tearin' Out My Heart," and "When a Blind Man Cries." Done back to back, the first a fine version of a Purple original, and Soto's performance really shines, combining a 60/40 emulation of both Joe Lynn Turner and Gillan, really belting it out with Pell's able six string support and then producer/songwriter Bob Rock taking the vocal duties for the latter. At first, such a grand undertaking seems a bit risky considering Pell's reputation having always been built on a foundation of solid rock, and the twenty or so percent of weaving the soft, silky variety amongst it. A full album of nothing but slow songs however, when placed side by side might get a tad monotonous… and on the rare occasion it does. For the most part, Pell, always with the ability to write moving portrayals within a gently sewn song structure and never short on harmonious histrionics, does justice to the idea of an album's worth of "Ballads" which taken at face value, is a wholesome and inspired production… and with many here having never been released before, makes for an interesting listen on a windy, cool day for a stolen moment of self-reflection.

More from the Online Metal Journal