Review Summary: Hell yeah
Axe Dragger features one of the more interesting lineups I’ve run into, spearheaded (axe-headed?) by Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch alongside a Dark Funeral bassist, a Pentagram drummer, and the lead singer from Pantera’s glam era. The hodgepodge is united in their classic metal inspirations and one can certainly hear influence from Priest, Riot, and Sabbath among others across their self-titled debut. Of course, the members’ backgrounds do inevitably play into the concoction as the mood is prone to fluctuating from a doom crunch to sleazy choruses.
What better way to open a self-titled album than with a self-titled song providing the mission statement? “Axe Dragger” immediately sets an over the top standard with a mid-tempo stomping riff that’s somewhere between Dio and Priest, the latter especially manifesting in the molten guitar tone and shred-friendly solo. The vocals are delivered in a gleeful sneer with as many shrieks of the song title stuffed in as possible. Between the bombast and bold lyrics, making for a metal anthem that’s just infernal enough to be the right sort of boneheaded.
From there, the band is at their best when picking up the pace. “Give You The Rope” and “Iron Rider” are especially memorable with speedy chugs, tight structuring, and the sort of catchy choruses that keep their racy lines from feeling too cheesy. “Shock ‘Em Dead” is another standout speedster with an especially determined structure and impactful chprua. While the slower tracks aren’t quite as attention grabbing in comparison, tracks like “Eat Me From The Inside” and “The Damned Will Cry” still manage to put in some strong riffs that really bring out the beefy bass and drums.
Overall, Axe Dragger’s debut album is an enjoyable exercise of classic metal reverence with just enough quirks that reflect the personnel behind it. While there are some moments that risk getting a little too hokey, there’s a genuine enthusiasm at play that keeps irony poisoning out of the picture. The musicians put a lot of energy into the material and even the lesser tracks will pack in a solid enough hook. Whether the project develops from here or not, this is the sort of album designed to have every chuckle be followed up by an understanding “Hell yeah.”
