The Axemen

Description

The Axemen is a multi-artist compilation featuring various hard rock and metal band, released on Pure Metal Records in 1988, a division of Refuge Music Group, distributed by Spectra Distribution.

As the title portrays ‘The Axemen’ was intended to highlight Pure Metal’s guitar heroes (and heroines). In reality, most of the cuts have a straight ahead hard rock treatise that features only a smattering of gung-ho guitar solos.

America’s virtuoso, Rex Carroll (and Whitecross), performs one of only three tracks intended solely for this project, with Carroll’s recognized abilities it would have been nice to have a signature instrumental (a la Ronnie Montrose and Joe Satriani).

Other groups featured include Jerusalem, Bride, Saint, Force 3, Daniel Band, Light Force, Rosanna’s Raiders, Scarlet Red, Bjorn Stigsson and newcomers Novella. The two latter contributors standout most, seeing that more than half of the cuts on ‘Axemen’ have or will have already appeared on vinyl.

Overall, this is an appealing album, yet it could have utilized fresher material and a lot more wide opened axe-appeal. [Kevin Allison, CCM, March 1989]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Rex Carroll of Whitecross – “Shakedown”
A2. Troy Thompson of Bride – “Hell No”
A3. Dee Harrington of Saint – “Returning”
A4. Charlie Wilson of Force 3 – “Warrior Of Light”
A5. Murray Adams of Lightforce – “Babylon”

Side Two
B1. Ulf Christiansson of Jerusalem – “Covered By Blood”
B2. Tony Rossi of Daniel Band – “Party In Heaven”
B3. Rosanna Palmer of Rosanna’s Raiders – “Serve Someone”
B4. John Citarelli of Novella – “Running Home”
B5. Curtis Lee of Scarlet Red – “You Live Fast”
B6. Bjorn Stigsson of Leviticus – “Come Together”

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Pure Metal Records.

A full-page advertisement for the artists signed to Pure Metal Records, including the sampler albums The Axemen and Heavy Righteous Metal, was featured in the April 1988 issue of CCM Magazine.