Here’s a great new recording from a familiar name. Axel Rudi Pell has maintained a prolific presence on the European metal scene since the 80s, and although on the basis of the current single ‘Sanity’ he’s still very much living in that decade, the results are very strong.

The number’s opening riffs carry more than a hint of the melodic side of Judas Priest, but the track soon ventures into an even more accessible place when a blanket of keys, a pusing bass and a great riff blend a melodic metal sound with an influence from a classic melodic rock/hard edged AOR sound. The melodic rock angle is further accentuated via the presence of Hardline man Johnny Gioeli who puts in a vocal performance that’s not too far removed from something the legendary Robin McAuley might share, his huge curling tones being a very natural fit for Pell’s chosen guitar sound.

Despite the track never breaking beyond a mid tempo, it really doesn’t sell the audience short. The steady rhythm creates a superb old school atmosphere – sometimes sounding more like a Kingdom Come power ballad than one of Axel’s more bombastic affairs, which turns out to be a very welcome move – and Pell turns in a terrific solo, where soaring notes and some unexpectedly bluesy tones show a maturity that goes far beyond the fretboard shredding that so many Euro acts have made their staple.

This provides a strong contrast with the very rocky ‘Ghost Town’ which Steamhammer Records shared in December ’25 as the first taste of the album of the same name, but there are definitely early signs that the full length release – due in March 2026 – could be one of Pell’s best albums in a while.

Listen to ‘Sanity’ in full below.