Final Axe-Beyond Hells Gate

Retroactive
2005/2010



Beyond Hells Gate was originally released back in 2005. This collectors edition has new artwork and has been remixed, re-mastered and partially re-recorded. Guitarist/songwriter Bill Menchen has been involved with many projects over the years, but Final Axe is probably my favorite. Just something about how comfortable the band is with their material shines through with this particular project. Musically Final Axe sound like a cross between Judas Priest, And justice for all era Metallica and perhaps Meliah Rage. They waste little time is tearing forward with tight chops and they never waste any riffs or beats. Vocalist Keith Miles is one of my favorite of the singers that Bill Menchen has worked with. Miles sounds something James Hetfield only a little more force and grit. One of my biggest complaints with a number of christian metal bands is the lyrics tend to be a trifle wordy and many singers stumble with them. I don't know if it's the vocals or the vocalist, but on this album they work just fine. Robert Sweet was brought in to do the drums on this re-issue. Now I am certainly not a big Stryper fan, but I have always felt that he was a fine drummer. He gets even more of a chance to let loose on this album because it's much heavier material than he usually plays on with Stryper. Sweet has played on most of Bill Menchen's projects in recent years and it's been a productive partnership. Now for Menchen himself, his playing is spot on. He is a master of many riffs and his best ones seem to end up on Final Axe albums. All of the songs on this disc are easy to get into. A solid disc all the way around.