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.

Final Axe-Axe of the apostles

Retroactive
2008

Final Axe were a southern California based based christian metal band. They released one album in 1989 and broke up 1991. However in 1990 they recorded guitars and vocals for what was to be their second album yet they didn't complete it and it wasn't released. However a few years ago vocalist Keith Miles and guitarist Ben Menchen got together and brought in Stryper drummer Robert Sweet to lay down the drum tracks. Menchen also played bass and keyboards and they completed this album. Quite honestly I was surprised by the heaviness of this album. Musically the style is reminiscent of Judas Priest and maybe even early Grave Digger with walls of heavy guitar ripping out shortly after each track begins. The vocals are deep and solid, but not a huge amount of range overall. I always considered Robert Sweet to be the most talented member of Stryper and it's interesting to hear what he can do on some real metal tracks. He attacks his parts vigorously and it's obvious that the two founding members of Final Axe sure made the right decision in bringing Sweet to lay down the drums. If this album had been like this in 1990 then a lot of people really would have taken notice. It's still very good today, but most of us have heard a lot of bands like this although these guys might play with a bit more conviction. My only major gripe was that the majority of the songs are the same pace and causes the tracks to feel like they are blending together at times. Still fans of classic late 80's early 90's metal will probably welcome this album. This album was actually originally released in 2006, but is being released again by Retroactive this month.

http://www.myspace.com/finalaxe