Stone Axe – Stone Axe (re-issue)

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US rockers Stone Axe’s self-titled debut album is now three years old, and has been succeeded since, but it wasn’t particularly widely available and their new deal with integrity-driven rock label Ripple Music has brought about a double-disc re-issue packed with enough bonus material to make it worth the re-buy even for those lucky enough to be able to get a copy of the original release. There are a few different rock styles evident on the main album, all of which could be categorised as “retro”. From the hazy ’70s groove of opener Riders of The Night and sombre The Skylah Rae, to the through-and-through Thin Lizzy-isms of There’d Be Days and Taking Me Home, and the Phil Lynott-sings-AC/DC of Diamonds & Fools, as Stone Axe make no attempt to hide their influences. But the key to this re-issue, apart from perhaps making the excellent original album available in a few terrorties previously deprived of it, is the bonus material. And Ripple Music have not scrimped in that department. The CD itself has received no fewer than eight previously unreleased live tracks, a brand new song called Shine On, and an extended jam on Rhinoceros, while a second disc in the shape of a DVD, is packed with live performances from various venues, including a record store performance and an appearance on KZOK 102.5 in Seattle, plus a radio interview and the music videos for Riders of The Night and Chasing Dragons (lead single from their second album), running to a total of 74 minutes. The footage ranges from bootleg quality to some crystal clear sound (the best of which forms the live tracks on the CD) and even some pro-shot footage, although this appears to have had a somewhat unnecessary grainy effect added to it. Nevertheless the DVD, and especially the CD, demonstrate what an excellent band Stone Axe are, with a sound crying out to be played alongside the likes of Spooky Tooth and contemproaries like Witchcraft and Graveyard.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Hard Rock, Quick.Play Reviews, Re-release, Stoner, Stone Axe