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Axemaster
Axemaster
was formed in 1985 by lead guitarist Joe Sims. The
project andmusic has stood the test of time and
remains strong after over 30 years.
With the band's original lineup they recorded their
first 4 releases: "Slave to the Blade" (demo EP
cassette), "Blessing in the Skies" (full length
album), "The Vision" (shaped pictured disc single),
and "Crusades" (shaped picture disc single), the
last 3 being released by Azra International Records.
They were also featured on Azra Record's compilation
shaped picture record "Metalgon" and in the
comedy/horror movie "Killer Nerd".
Several lineup changes followed as the band recorded
their next 2 releases:
"Death Before Dishonor" (full length cassette,
European-only release) and "5 Demons (Imperative is
their Demise)" (self-released EP cassette). Joe Sims
is the only original member to remain and play on
every release. After this the band altered their
musical direction and changed the name to The
Awakening.
Four years later, Unisound Records {Greece}
re-issued selected songs from 4 of the band’s
releases (as well as 3 songs by The Awakening) on a
CD titled "Axemaster & The Awakening, 1985-1995". In
2002 Unisound re-released "Death Before Dishonor"
(as well as some unreleased material) on CD. The
success of these discs proved that Axemaster's music
remained in demand although the band had been
inactive for several years.
The band's original lineup briefly re-united in 2007
and re-released "Blessing in the Skies" on disc
through Burning Star Records {Greece}. The reunion
was short-lived however, and the remaining members
moved on to do a studio project under a different
name.
In 2010, Sims permanently re-launched Axemaster and
over the next couple years, started work on a new
album with a lineup that included current members:
bassist Jim Curtis, and vocalist Geoff McGraw. Then,
in 2014, the band (along with new/current drummer
Denny Archer) signed a deal with Pure Steel Records
(Germany), and released the full length album
"Overture to Madness" in the following year.
After taking a year to play shows in support of
"Overture", as well as adding lead guitar
extraordinaire Damin Bennett to the lineup (making
it the first time the band has had a dual axe
attack!), and writing new material, the current
version of Axemaster hit the studio in 2016 to
record a new album ("Crawling Chaos") which was
released by Pure Steel in late 2017.
"Crawling Chaos" includes 10 tracks with major label
sound and the signature Axemaster style (a mix of
traditional metal, doom metal, and thrash metal),
that shows the band's evolution while still paying
respect to their metal roots. The album has gotten
rave reviews worldwide (both in webzines and on
radio), which helps to affirm the general belief
that it has all the elements necessary to become the
most successful and memorable Axemaster album to
date.
Shortly in advance of the new album, Pure Steel
re-released a collection of the band's material from
the 80's and early 90's as a collectable vinyl 2
record set titled "Blessing in the Skies (and other
cuts from the chamber)". The album includes all the
material from "Blessing in the Skies" and "5
Demons", as well as several additional songs. All of
the material was re-mastered which GREATLY improved
the sound of all the tracks.
Axemaster's unique blend of styles has proven to be
a combination that appeals to metal fans from 2
different generations. This, coupled with the large
amount of worldwide exposure they have received over
the years and the band's resolve to keep moving
forward, gives cause to expect that Axemaster will
continue to achieve greater success in the future!
Album: Crawling Chaos
(2017)
"Crawling Chaos" is a full length (10 song) CD
released by Pure Steel Records (Germany) in November
of 2017 and is distributed/available worldwide
through numerous outlets/stores.
Notes for the artist: This page will always be here under your name
in "Featured Artists" You can always send us an updated Bio using
'CONTACT' on Menu at the top of page.
# |
(PST) |
Name |
length |
Rating |
Notes |
1 |
9:00 |
10,000 Pound Hammer |
04:25 |
4 |
New song |
2 |
9:04 |
Crawling Chaos |
05:46 |
4 |
New song |
3 |
9:10 |
Axes of Evil |
04:53 |
4 |
New song |
4 |
9:15 |
Flowers for the Dead |
04:54 |
4 |
New song |
5 |
9:20 |
Mystify the Dream Hypnotic |
01:53 |
4 |
New song |
6 |
9:22 |
Aldar Rof |
04:29 |
4 |
New song |
7 |
9:26 |
Shallow Grave |
04:39 |
4 |
New song |
8 |
9:31 |
Death Before Dishonor |
04:27 |
4 |
New song |
9 |
9:36 |
Bravado |
03:36 |
4 |
New song |
10 |
9:39 |
Knight of Pain |
04:48 |
4 |
New song |
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Bay
Station Band
For their third studio recording Other
Desert Cities (April 27, 2018), Bay Stationsought inspiration amid
the stark, natural beauty of the Mojave Desert. While their first
two releases, Your Own Reaction (2014 under their former name, KCDC)
and Go Out and Make Some (2016) reflected the coastal landscape of
their home in Alameda, California, the 10 songs on Other Desert
Cities were written by Bay Station co-founders Deborah Crooks and
Kwame Copeland during several week-long writing retreats in Joshua
Tree. Their experiences and impressions of the desert town adjacent
to its namesake National Park inform the recording, which details
the strange, poetic, and distinctly American stories of desert
denizens, both animal and human.
As they did on their previous two releases, Deborah Crooks (vocals,
principal lyricist) and Kwame Copeland (guitar, dobro, vocals,
harmonica) co-produced Other Desert Cities with Mike Stevens.
Stevens (Sun Kil Moon, The Uptones) also played drums, mixed the
record, and recorded three of the tracks at his Lost Monkey studio
in Hayward, CA. Along with Ben Bernstein (bass) and Steve Waters
(guitar, backing vocals), they recorded most of the album at Gatos
Trail studio in the Mojave, among the Joshua trees and creosote,
with engineer Dan Joeright. Ben Bernstein also recorded and
engineered “Fire Song” and “Trickster Moon” at Petting Zoo Studio in
Oakland, CA. Upon joining the band in late 2017, bass player Chris
Veenstra contributed to several songs on the record, as did guest
musicians Michael McNevin (electric and slide guitar), and Joan
Reuter (fiddle). The album was mastered by Ken Lee (JJ Grey & Mofro,
Bill Frisell) in Oakland.
Many of the album’s tracks depict the imagined lives of desert
dwellers; from wild coyotes and survivors of a building fire to
road-tripping visitors. “Sleeping Hard Waking Slow” explores aspects
of unconditional and timeless love, sung from an unconventional
point of view. “Look but Don’t Touch” is a straight-ahead rock
song depicting the life of a stripper working at an adult
entertainment store, while “Sands of Time” doubles down on a
recurring theme of timelessness over a dance-worthy, samba-inspired
beat. Crooks assumes the narrative voice, in turns affectionate
("Sands of Time”) inclusive and communal (“Everybody’s Business”)
and mournful (“Trickster Moon”). “Bay Station Wiggle” displays the
band’s penchant for cutting loose, skirting the edges of surf music
in a guitardriven romp evocative of Chuck Berry.
Notes for the artistt: This page will always be here under your name
in "Featured Artists". You can always send us an updated Bio using
'CONTACT' on Menu at the top of page..
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