Bochum-based guitarist and composer Axel Rudi Pell is back with the title track, “Ghost Town,” the debut single and lyric video for his just-announced new album, also titled Ghost Town, set for release on March 20, 2026, via SPV/Steamhammer. For well over 35 years, Pell has been wowing fans with his unmistakable signature—a hybrid of powerful guitar riffs and catchy melodies, presented by his brilliant band, including American vocalist Johnny Gioeli and former Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli. The title track itself is a haunting, very catchy uptempo number that perfectly represents the album’s sound, which brings to mind the style of early Rainbow classics.
The new album is no exception to Pell’s history of including remarkable collaborations: it features a sensationally powerful duet on the track “Breaking Seals,” starring frontman Gioeli together with German metal legend Udo Dirkschneider—an absolute first in Pell’s long career. Pell produced the 11-track record himself, with Tommy Geiger providing valuable engineering support during sessions at the Blind Guardian Studios in Grefrath. This new offering cements Pell’s status as a veteran composer who continues to surprise and deliver high-stakes hard rock.