FINAL AXE

Previously known as Holy Right (one of Christian music's first white metal bands) in the mid 80's, Final Axe emerged in the highly competitive California metal scene. Keith formed the band, and even printed t-shirts with the Final Axe logo on, before the band was completed! For a number of reasons, the band decided against signing with a Christian label, instead choosing to self-release the 1989 cassette-only album, 'Beyond Hell's Gate', which only cemented their cult status in the underground metal scene. Final Axe would go on to play with the best in Christian metal, becoming legendary for their Metal Midnight Festival performances. Unfortunately, this release would go out of print almost as soon as it was released, and the band broke up a while later. Bill Menchen and Keith Miles (aka Simon Tyler) would later team up to form the band Titanic.

BEYOND HELL'S GATE (1989, 2005) RETROACTIVE

Final Axe were yet another semi-obscure Christian metal act that eluded my attention back in the day. The American marked seemed flooded with all these bands that never went beyond releasing just one cassette-only demo or album. Thank goodness for Retroactive, and their endless work of bringing this music back to the fans. 'Beyond Hell's Gate' was initially released, only on cassette, by the band themselves, back in 1989. And I guess it didn't actually break through the charts, as that was pretty much all we heard from the band. They did some domestic touring, but soon folded. Then in 2004 Retroactive Records got the rights to reissue this album, and started working on a remastered new version. And in 2005 we got to hear this long out of print classic once more. The original cassette had only 8 songs, plus 2 instrumental tracks. Retroactive's reissue omits these instrumentals, but adds 2 bonus tracks, namely "Blind Faith" and "Rated X". The booklet doesn't give any information about these 2 additional tracks. Final Axe plays Heavy Metal, capital H, capital M! I'd say they are trampling down the same path as fellow Christian acts such as Saint and Messiah Prophet. No flowery synthesizers, no quirky time changes, just no-hold-barred heavy metal! This is guitar-driven metal, with testosterone filled vocals. I can't say that the musicians are very imaginative, but is that even needed in this kind of music? What you see is what you get. Even thought this initially was a low budget recording, this reworked version is sounding just fine, all the time retaining that classic 80's vibe. It's impossible to call yourself a metalhead and sit still while numbers like "Soldier Of Compromise" and "Blind Faith" are playing. This is some great, catchy music! And the lyrics are as direct and in-you-face as the music, just as is used to be back in the white metal glory days. After re-releasing this album the band reunited, and started working on a brand new album. In 2006 Steel Legacy Records reissued 'Beyond Hell's Gate' again, this time as a limited 500 copies only vinyl release. This reissue features the original artwork (seen to the right above).

Killer tracks: Baptized In Blood, Are You Ready?, Soldier Of Compromise, Blind Faith, Rated X

Related artists:

Titanic