Year : 1984 (Rock Candy Remastered 2016)
Style : Hard Rock
Country : Canada
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 110 mb
Bio:
Kick Axe is a Canadian heavy metal band from Regina, Saskatchewan. The band achieved moderate commercial success in the mid-1980s on the strength of the singles "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "On the Road to Rock", and "Rock The World". Following the release of their 1986 album Rock the World, Kick Axe disbanded and remained on hiatus until 2004 when they re-emerged with the album Kick Axe IV.The band's "classic" mid-1980s lineup consisted of George Criston (vocals), Larry Gillstrom (lead guitar), Raymond Harvey (lead guitar), Brian Gillstrom (drums), and Victor Langen (bass guitar). Vocalist Criston did not return for the band's 2004 reunion, being replaced by Gary Langen, who had actually been a founding member of the band in the late 1970s.Early years (1976 - 1980: Kick Axe was formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1976 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (vocals/bass guitar) and his brother Gary Langen (drums). By 1978, they added a second guitarist in Raymond Harvey and decided to relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia in search of greater exposure. Gary Langen was not willing to leave Saskatchewan and was replaced by Larry's brother Brian Gillstrom. The group began recording in 1979 but scrapped the sessions because they felt they needed a more distinguished front man. Vocalist Charles McNary was brought in and the band started to make waves, even making an appearance on a Playboy compilation album.Career expansion, decline and fall (1981 - 1988: McNary left the band in 1981, and it was almost two years before George Criston replaced him, giving Kick Axe the "distinguished front man" they had long desired. Shortly after his joining, the group signed a major label deal with Spencer Proffer's Pasha records. Vices was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such top acts of the day as Judas Priest, Whitesnake, and Pasha label-mates Quiet Riot. The third single from Vices (appearing only on the cassette version), a cover of Humble Pie's "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the Up the Creek movie soundtrack in 1984. The song also appeared on the first of two Muchmusic compilation albums promoting the network's weekly Power Hour program.The band's follow-up album Welcome to the Club was released in 1985 and strayed away from their rock anthems for a more radio-friendly sound, and included a handful of guest stars. It reached the Billboard Top 200, but disappointed longtime fans. Meanwhile, the group appeared on the The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack under the name of Spectre General, the name change due to legal reasons. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra in their 1985 album Ready To Strike) and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (a cover of a song by John Farnham from the film Savage Streets) which were included on the soundtrack. Guitarist Harvey left the band in 1986, and the band elected to carry on as a four-piece. One final album: Rock the World, a return to their heavy metal roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, dropped by their record label, Kick Axe broke up.Reunion without Criston (2003 - present: The band reformed in 2003 with original member Gary Langen singing for Criston who was unavailable to join the reunion due to prior work commitments. The new album entitled IV was released the following year. In 2008 Langen left the band, though they continued to play Canadian tour dates and rock festivals in 2009 and 2010 with new vocalist Daniel Nargang, formerly of the Regina metal band Into Eternity.
Album:
"Vices" was the first album from Canadian rockers KICK AXE — and a little gem it is too, highly deserving a Rock Candy Records remastered treatment. This reissue includes as bonus track the hard to find '30 Days In The Hole' featured in the movie Up The Creek.Canadian Rock has always been highly regarded among discerning metal / hard rock fans. In general, the quality of the craftsmanship, songwriting and playing is, in many respects, superior to any other country in the world, lending the acts an air of confidence and accomplishment that has always impressed. Kick Axe were, it must be said, one of the best Canadian hard rock acts that emerged during the the first half of the '80s, rubbing shoulders with other hot contenders such as Helix, Coney Hatch and Anvil to name a few.Signing to CBS Records in Canada the band was then, surprisingly, taken under the wing of Pasha Records in the USA, home of multi-platinum sellers Quiet Riot.Produced by Spencer Proffer (Quiet Riot, King Kobra, W.A.S.P.) and originally issued in 1984, the album contains a sterling selection of tracks that place the band center stage in the burgeoning mid-80s hard rock renaissance, and give vocalist George Criston room to impress at every turn.As a prime example of 24 Karat Canadian Hard Rock, "Vices" takes no prisoners and lays down the law with focussed intent."Vices" is plenty of big choruses, riffs galore and some nice shredding during the obligatory guitar solos.Opener “Heavy Metal Shuffle” is an underground classic and bring back great memories. It's indeed a 'shuffle rocker' with all the magic of the era with its guitar solo being exactly the type of ‘swinging a cat’ sound I love. Title track “Vices” is a beat-your-chest anthem, “Stay On Top” is another solid number driven by the chorus before the ballad “Dreamin’ About You” enters — a lovely change of pace and a fantastic example of the ’80s power ballad. “Maneater” is up next and is a number that just plows straight ahead with its pounding drums — a great slice of balls to the walls hard rock. There's lots of energy on “Cause For Alarm” with great gang vocals delivered with melody that add to the effectiveness, while “Just Passin’ Through” is a solid head nodder that flows along very nicely.One of the highlights is “On The Road To Rock”, the lead-off single and video, another kick-ass track again following the theme of riff-driven, big chorus tunes. A punchy piece with some driving drums and a showcasing of the vocals of Criston. This one benefits from the production techniques and a well-crafted numerous voice chorus.Despite its instant appeal, this song is a quite complex piece (as several tracks on the album) with a lot going on compared to many other band's material in this genre which are usually more simplistic. Some great guitar licks are placed strategically throughout which add to the flare.Then you have the bonus "30 Days In The Hole", perhaps the more commercial track from this early Kick Axe era, and one of their more melodic hard rock oriented. Originally only appeared on the Up The Creek LP movie soundtrack and the cassette version of the album. A collector's piece."Vices" is a truly elaborated and ambitious '80s Hard Rock affair in which no song is untouched by an array of editing techniques and mega-production. There’s a lot going on in every song which can be quite refreshing. A lot of dimensionality in the sound – tonnes of dynamism. Kick Axe - and producer Spencer Proffer - skillfully blended here melodic hard rock melodies with straight up US metal riffs, attitude, and loads of money spent in the studio. Great remaster by Rock Candy on an album that needed more clarity and 'air' according to modern music players.
Line Up:
George Criston – lead vocals
Raymond Arthur Harvey – guitar and vocals
Larry Gillstrom – guitar and vocals
Victor Langen – bass and vocals
Vice Brian Gillstrom – drums and vocals
Tracklist:
01. Heavy Metal Shuffle 3:15
02. Vices 4:22
03. Stay on Top 4:06
04. Dreamin' About You 4:32
05. Maneater 3:21
06. On the Road to Rock 4:22
07. Cause for Alarm 4:38
08. Alive and Kickin' 3:50
09. All the Right Moves 4:36
10. Just Passin' Through 4:48
11. 30 Days In The Hole (Bonus Track)
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