Review: Axel Rudi Pell, O2 Academy, Islington, 21st March 2026
Axel Rudi Pell kicked off the opening night of his latest tour at the Islington Academy with a set that displayed both material from his new (and 23rd!) album Ghost Town and established classics.
The crowd at the Academy responded enthusiastically to both new and old material, after all it had been 12 years since the band had last played London!
Not every moment hit the mark. A lengthy drum solo midway through the set felt a little self-indulgent and disrupted the flow (although I’ve never been a fan of these!) and there was a bit of miscommunication over the end of a keyboard solo, but that was kinda endearing.
Minor quibbles though, when you have a cavalcade of face melting guitar solos in your arsenal, it’s always going to be a memorable night – particularly when they’re as emotional as Forever Angel!
The tour continues throughout Europe into mid-April, and the new album is out now. Both highly recommended.
New Album ’Ghost Town‘ out now:
Tracklisting:
1) The Regicide (Intro)
2) Guillotine Walk
3) Breaking Seals (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
4) Ghost Town
1) The Regicide (Intro)
2) Guillotine Walk
3) Breaking Seals (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
4) Ghost Town
5) Holy Water
6) The Enemy Within
7) Hurricane
8) Sanity
9) Towards The Shore
10) Steps Of Stone
11) Higher Call
6) The Enemy Within
7) Hurricane
8) Sanity
9) Towards The Shore
10) Steps Of Stone
11) Higher Call
‘Ghost Town’ is released through Steamhammer worldwide in the following configurations:
- CD DigiPak incl. poster
- CD Jewel case
- 2LP Gatefold, 140 g, black vinyl, padded inner sleeves, coloured insert
- Exclusive CD/2LP Bundles with a shirt and exclusive vinyl only at the Steamhammer shop
- 2LP Gatefold exclusive coloured edition only at the Napalm shop
- 2LP Gatefold exclusive coloured edition only at the EMP shop
- Download / Streaming
AXEL RUDI PELL Tour 2026:
- 21.03. UK-London – O2 Academy Islington
- 22.03. UK-Manchester – Academy 3
- 24.03. DE-Berlin – Huxleys
- 26.03. DE-Bochum – Zeche
- 27.03. DE-Jena – F-Haus
- 28.03. CZ-Zlin – Masters Of Rock Café
- 29.03. DE-Geiselwind – Music Hal
- 31.03. DE-Augsburg – Spectrum
- 01.04. DE-Munich – Backstage
- 03.04. HU-Budapest – Dürer Kert
- 05.04. DE-Lindau – Club Vaudeville
- 06.04. CH-Bern – Bierhübeli
- 07.04. DE-Saarbrücken – Garage
- 08.04. DE-Hamburg – Fabrik
- 10.04. SE-Lund – Mejeriet
- 11.04. SE-Stockholm – Debaser
- 12.04. SE-Göteburg – Pustervik
- 14.04. DE-Bochum – Zeche
Review by Thom with press access kindly supplied by PalmerTurnerOverdrive PR.
