By 1983, the Axe sound continued their likeable combination of vague boogie mixed with wholesome AOR, a sound labelmates Blackfoot had started tinkering with on ‘Siogo’.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Axe
ALBUM: Nemesis
LABEL: Atco
SERIAL: 7 90099-1
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Bobby Barth – vocals, guitars * Michael Osborne – guitars * Wayne Haner – bass * Ted Mueller – drums * Edgar Riley – keyboards, vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Heat In The Street * 02 Young Hearts * 03 All Through The Night * 04 I Think You’ll Remember Tonight * 05 She’s Had The Power * 06 Girls Girls Girls * 07 Eagle Flies Alone * 08 Keep Playing That Rock ‘n’ Roll * 09 Foolin Your Mama Again * 10 Let The Music Come Back * 11 Masquerade
WEBLINKS: FB Page
Background
Axe had formed from the remains of Babyface, which all original members, Barth, Riley, Mueller and Mike Turpin (replaced by Haner in 1981) had belonged to, Osborne hooking up later.
The self titled 1979 Axe debut caught the eye of pomp fans everywhere, strengthened by 1980’s ‘Living On The Edge’ and killer AOR classics like ‘Fantasy Of Love’.
Axe had experienced decent chart placings for 1982’s ‘Offering’, reaching no 81, bolstering the likes of Motley Crue, Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne in their attempt to secure nationwide exposure.
By 1983, the Axe sound continued their likeable combination of vague boogie mixed with wholesome AOR, a sound labelmates Blackfoot had started tinkering with on ‘Siogo’.
The Songs
The boogie side of Axe is displayed to mindblowing effect on ‘Heat In The Street’, 100 MPH stuff with the right amount of keyboards and feisty riffing. There’s a shot of AOR with ‘Young Hearts’, before the Blackfoot clone ‘All Through The Night’ rears its head.
‘I Think You’ll Remember Tonight’ uses some organ work that harkens back to Deep Purple, but the result is sizzling melodic rock. The AOR high point comes with ‘She’s Had The Power’, insanely thrilling in all regards, with a barrage of time changes and a chorus set to stun.
The rougher aspect of Axe returns for ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’, four years before the Crue ripped off the title, more brazen and wild eyed than those punters. A heavy, keyboard filled cover of Edgar Winter‘s ‘Keep Playing That Rock ‘N’ Roll’, is more listenable than most covers, almost making it their own.
Axe’s hot harmonies permeate ‘Foolin’ Your Mama Again’ and a galloping riff bounds through ‘Midnight Drives Me Mad’, which pomp fans would appreciate. Riley lets his synths do the talking on the nostalgic ‘Let The Music Come Back’ before the eerie, acoustic ‘Masquerade’ finishes things on a Pink Floyd-ish note.
In Summary
While ‘Nemesis’ failed to chart, the future still looked bright for Axe until 1984 and a car crash which claimed the life of Osborne and seriously injured Barth. This prompted Barth to fold Axe so he could recover from his injuries, a premature end to a fine band.
In 1996 there was salvation for Axe fans as Barth, Riley and Mueller reformed, recording ‘Five’ that year. At the time of writing, Axe continues to tour, their last album being 2000’s ‘The Crown’, their lineup now containing Danny Masters on guitar and Christian Teele on drums. Axe may never attain the levels that ‘Nemesis’ bought them again, but it’s good to see them still going.
Axe on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
