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Cherry Red / HNE [Release Date : 24.11.23]
Lillian Axe is the thinking man’s heavy metal band.
Even if you hadn’t heard the music, mainman Steve Blaze (writer/guitarist/producer) writes a cracking set of liner notes.
Here is just a glimpse: “I believe there is great beauty in the growth and expansion of ideas and creativity by artists who truly create from the depths of their soul. I have always wanted to experience and share new ideas and realizations.”
Blaze realised early on that he did not want him or his band to take on the identity of a Motley Crue or a Ratt. And so he abandoned their initial foray into the Sunset Strip sound. Which explains why the band’s first two albums do not appear here. We join the Lillian Axe story on album no.3, Poetic Justice, the first title in the Box, Volume 1 – Resurrection.
This is an ambitious, carefully curated, seven CD package of the band’s studio and live albums released 1992 – 2009. And that’s not the whole story. Each CD has anywhere from 2 to half a dozen rare bonus tracks, primarily demos, many previously unreleased.
CD1: Poetic Justice (1992)
CD2: Psychoschizophrenia (1993)
CD3: Live 2002, pt 1
CD4: Live 2002, pt 2
CD5: Waters Rising (2007)
CD6: Sad Day On Planet Earth (2009)
CD7: Random Acts Of Blindness (Steve Blaze “solo” album, 2004)
Plucking songs almost at random from the boxset gives us a satisfying taste of the metal band they transitioned to. ‘Living In The Grey’ from Poetic Justice, and ‘Nocturnal Symphony’ from Sad Day On Planet Earth typically ramp up the dramatic lyrical and musical intensity, before breaking out into more familiar metal territory.
Then there’s ‘Fields Of Yesterday’ from Waters Rising, and ‘Bridge Of Azealeas’ from Random Acts of Blindness. Each is a 6 minute plus, multipart metal epic. In each case, Blaze uses the music as an emotional power, disturbing, lyrically provocative, technical, dark in places and light in others. He makes it all work.
Notably, among the bonus material, the acoustic versions of ‘Ghost Of Winter’ and ‘Promised Land’ are powerful tracks, revealing a deeper unease, only just hinted at on the electrified versions. Only two of many bona fide bonus tracks.
It’s also interesting and informative to hear stage versions on the live discs of songs from the pre Poetic Justice albums. Night and day, really.
For metal fans, Resurrection is a genuine “must have” anthology. ****1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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