KICK AXE BIOGRAPHY
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Kick Axe, one of the best heavy rock groups to come out of Canada in the eighties, have re-united and are in the process of releasing a new album.
The group received a gold record for their debut album "Vices" and toured with several rock heavyweights such as Judas Priest, Scorpions, Metallica, Rush, Quiet Riot, and WhiteSnake. Between 1983 and 1987, KickAxe released three albums with CBS/Sony and were also featured on two movie sounds tracks and numerous hard rock compilation albums. Their three videos all received heavy rotation on music channels during the eighties and can still be seen frequently on the Much Music Power Hour and VH1's Classic Metal Mania. Kick axe disbanded as friends in 1988.
In 2000 and 2001, the SongHaus/Rewind(Sony) label re-issued the first two Kick Axe albums on CD. The reviews and sales were surprisingly good, especially since the band had split up 12 years earlier. The third album, Rock the World, has become a rare collectors item and recently several copies sold on Ebay for over $150 USD. There have also been several fan web sites springing up, most notably the Official Kick Axe Fan Site.
With this fan revival and the overwhelmingly good response to the Kick Axe re-issues, the band got together and decided to record a fourth album. George Criston was unavailable due to long-term commitments with Nettwerk artists Dido, Avril Lavigne and Sarah MacLaughlin, so the members of Kick Axe looked to their original singer, Gary Langen, to pick up the vocal duties. Gary was the original vocalist and drummer with Kick Axe when it was formed in 1976 and played in several rock bands with Larry and brother Vic starting when they were old enough to pick up guitars.
Except for Gary, the new line up is the same as the one that played on the 'Vices' and 'Welcome to the Club' albums:
- Gary Langen: Vocals and additional drums
- Larry Gillstrom : Guitars and vocals
- Raymond Harvey: Guitars and vocals
- Brian Gillstrom: Drums and vocals
- Victor Langen: Bass and vocals
The new album continues the same brand of melodic hard rock that Kick Axe was known for. Their music incorporates crunchy guitars and elaborate vocal harmonies with a big drum sound. Drum fans will enjoy the cut "Do You Know", which features a dual drummer rhythm section that will make your speakers smoke. Kick Axe IV contains 14 brand new original songs.
- Right Now (4:47)
- Slip Inside My Dream (4:08)
- Rockin Daze (4:27)
- Turn To Stone (3:53)
- Do You Know (3:56)
- Who Knows Ya (4:28)
- Consolation (4:37)
- Time (4:03)
- Who Says (2:48)
- Woe (3:21)
- Black Heart (4:46)
- Rock n Roll Dog (3:53)
- City Lights (5:48)
- The Only Ones Here (4:03)