Hard Rock from the summer of 2022
Lillian Axe - From Womb to Tomb
Ten years after XI The Days Before Tomorrow Lillian Axe are back on CD with From Womb to Tomb. Ten years is too long for Lillian Axe to keep their vocalist, so Brent Graham is taking care of duties now. Wayne Stokely is behind the drums and bassist is Michael Maxx Darby is back. Guitars are still in the safe hands of Sam Poitevent and band leader Steve Blaze. I picked this CD up during their show last week in Bradford and did not have enough spins yet to give a final ordeal. So far it seems to be another winner (said the fanboy). A long album it is with 16 songs spanning well over an hour. Well some are just soundbits or spoken word over piano. The overall sound is still very much Lillian Axe and their hard rock always was melodic and intelligent in a near prog style. At ProgPower I discuss every year with a fellow Lillian Axe fan if they would not fit the festival. I would say yes, but some might disagree as too much heavy metal in the blend. This album holds some heavy highlights again (The Golden Dragon), Dance of the Maggots is another high, where their religious foundations are not hidden. The album is best played from womb to tomb as there is a general line somewhere and you just will be pleased througout. At times calmer for a while, this is another winner indeed. I will need to have many more spins, before deciding how good it really is. I saw them live last week, and they are at their peak again, so please come back with a proper album promoting tour next year. A white T-shirt with the cool artwork shall be welcome.
Ironflame - Where Madness Dwells
This band plays heavy metal as you expect with this bandname. I missed their previous three (!) releases of the past five years, so a productive lot they are. Ironflame plays heavy metal in the compact Maiden style. So there songs are around five minutes each and gives us all the metal we need. There are many younger bands nowadays, that play the traditional metal that the older ones can't give any longer. I would love to see this band live as I am sure it will be a party for every banger. Biggest chance to see them probably at a HOA, UTH or KIT festival.
Riot Act - Closer to the Flame
Riot Act is this other band touring the legacy of Riot. And doing so very well as I could witness myself last week in Bradford. Rick Ventura guitarist of Riot during their peak years. Another founding member of Riot Act was original Riot guitarist Lou Kouvaris, who sadly passed away in 2020. Musically Riot Act stay fairly close to old Riot on their more melodic albums. What helps is that with Don Chaffin the band holds a vocalist of the best sort. Ten songs and all compact make this not a long album, but one that is played very pleasantly. What is even better on CD, you get a bonus disc. That holds an overview of Riot's first albums in twelve songs. I did not read much about this band in magazines or online. From what I saw live, they should become big in the underground scene celebrating the best era in music.
UFO - High Stakes & Dangerous Men
No indeed, this is not a new album. The original album was released 30 years ago and meant the comeback of Pete Way to the band. Also it had Laurence Archer (Stampede, Grand Slam) on guitars plus Clive Edwards on drums. UFO went a bit under most radars those years before, so I missed this one at the time and started looking for it some years ago. Only available against crazy prices, I was more than pleased with the announcement of this re-release. This one comes with the addition of live album Lights Out in Tokyo recorded June 1992. If anything becomes clear on album and live bonus it is that with Pete Way back and Laurence Archer on guitars this band was in top shape. Listen to the classics and love the guitars. The High Stakes album holds also many good songs and Phil Mogg never disappointed on album or live. I am slightly gutted that I will miss the UFO farewell show in October, but this album is a decent substitute. Any fan of UFO should get this CD. Soon hereafter Schenker would be back and Laurence Archer and drummer Clive Edwards were asked to move further. Somehow I think thisi line-up could have brought us many great albums as well.
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