German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL is featured in a new interview with My Global Mind discussing his new album, Into The Storm. An excerpt is available below:

Q: The lyrics on your songs are often about medieval things. So where does this passion for medieval themes comes from?

Axel: "First of all I truly believe that I lived once in the medieval time. I just felt that some time ago. Another thing is that I’m very fascinated by RONNIE JAMES DIO and the lyrics on the RAINBOW album, Rising, offered much spiritually and mystical things. I just have a penchant for this kind of stuff. I was always interested in castles and together with such mystical lyrics it is just exciting for me. That’s why this is some kind of red line in my own songs."

Q: Your band had lots of line-up changes and also this time we see a new face on the drums: Bobby Rondinelli. How did you get him into the band?

Axel: "That was pretty easy. I didn’t expected that, but a good friend of mine has worked with Ritchie Blackmore in the 80?s when Bobby was a member of Rainbow. They never lost contact. Every Christmas and birthday they write E-Mails with each other. So I just asked him for Bobby’s E-Mail address and then I wrote him a message that we need a new drummer. Bobby said 'Ok, I’m familiar with your name, but I don’t really know which kind of music you are playing.' Then I sent him three demo-songs and that’s it. He said it’s exactly his kind of music and that he grew up with this music and has a bit free time. So I said: 'Hello Bobby, welcome on board!'"

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Into The Storm is out now. The tracklist is as follows:

'The Inquisitorial Procedure'

'Tower Of Lies'

'Long Way To Go'

'Burning Chains'

'When Truth Hurts'

'Changing Times'

'Touching Heaven'

'High Above'

'Hey Hey My My'

'Into The Storm'

Digipak bonus tracks:

'White Cats (Opus #6 Scivolare)'

'Way To Mandalay'

Check out three audio snippets below:

'Into The Storm':

'Burning Chains':

'Long Way To Go':

The album will be available on limited edition digipak including two extra tracks + poster, double gatefold LP with coloured vinyl, standard version and download. Watch Out for the deluxe edition incl. digipak edition, plec, metalpin, poster, postcard, sticker and much more.

Pell recently announced dates for his 2014 European Tour, the first leg taking place in February.

Confirmed tour dates:

February

7 - Hannover, Germany - Capitol
8 - Weert, Netherlands - De Bosuil
9 - London, England - The Garage
11 - Nürnberg, Germany - Löwensaal
12 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
14 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
15 - Erfurt, Germany - HsD
16 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
18 - Langen, Germany - Neue Stadthalle
19 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - Rockfabrik
20 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
21 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche