Stone Axe – Stone Axe

Oh STONE AXE, let that sweet bluesy metal/fuzz rock come rain down on me!  Right now, I am spinning STONE AXE?s re-release of their s/t album, and upon pressing play my ears are completely glued to the band?s infectious groove.  Picture the trippier side of Black Sabbath, the rockin? riffs of Cream, and even a sprinkle of Led Zeppelin.  Seriously, STONE AXE transitions so smoothly like the glory days of the 70?s that I feel as if I?ve found that diamond in the rough at the local record store, as I dust off the vinyl cover and put the needle down on the record itself – coffee and paraphernalia also at hand as I?m ready to listen.  This is great music to rock out to, chill to, and ultimately, enjoy.

The first song that stuck out to me was ?My Darkest Days? and its killer guitar tones.  The chorus itself could be the catchiest STONE AXE moment on the release, though the homecoming anthem of (lol, haha) ?Taking Me Home? may prove me wrong, as STONE AXE seems to bring out a bit of the Zep!  Vocalist Dru Brinkerhoff wails like a champ, the guitar solo is spot on in the song structure, and by golly Ripple, get this song added to Classic Rock radio and I?m sure after that you may even get a few phone calls from the crazies at the Active Rock stations, too.  ?Taking Me Home? is catchy, and acts as a great album closer.

This album is also quite the musician?s album.  The percussion march in ?Rhinoceros? for example mixed with the bluesy guitar riffs is good, or the more melodic driven ?The Skylah Rae? which proposes a very different side to STONE AXE, though do note it?s just as good as their other songs.  ?The Skylah Rae? is done with good precision, and once the mighty chord kicks in strong, we now know that The Skylah Rae has taken sea.  Great song buildup here, and quite possibly the best on this s/t release.  I?m sailing with you on this one, STONE AXE.

I?ve never heard of STONE AXE before I heard Ripple was all over them, and that?s the great thing about re-releases…  Re-releases can be great learning tools for bands you may have never known about, ever.  The re-release of STONE AXE?s s/t album is out right now via our good friends over at Ripple Music. Even though the original release was in 2009 and it?s roughly now 2 years later, STONE AXE sounds so good, I still consider this ?classic rock?.

Rating: 7 / 10
Label: Ripple Music
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/STONE-AXE/186663969482

By Alex Gilbert