STONE AXE

"Stone Axe II" (Ripple Music; 2010/2012)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

If you didn't know that "Stone Axe II" was originally released just recently, in 2010, you'd swear it was a hard rock album from the mid-70s. "Stone Axe II" is a hugely successful flashback to an age when bands such as Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Bad Company ruled the world.

Every track on "Stone Axe II" is well-muscled, classic hard rock with a firm blues backbeat featuring chunky riffs, dynamic leads and hearty vocals. Track #2, "We Know It's Still Rock N Roll," brings to mind Bon Scott-era AC/DC, while other tracks, like "Live for the Day" and "Those Were the Golden Years" sound like classic Bad Company and Thin Lizzy anthems respectively. Again, if you didn't know this was recently recorded, you'd swear it was original music from the era.

In the special re-release version, you get the original "Stone Axe II" album, plus another CD with 15 tracks of material previously available only on vinyl. Disc 2 isn't as consistent as Disc 1, of course, because it's a compilation of material and not a single album. Nonetheless, it plays well from beginning to end as well.

A terrific collection of great hard rock that fans of the 70s era will find irresistible.

For more information, check out http://stoneaxeband.com/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

 

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Copyright © 2012 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04 Mar 2024 14:36:47 -0500 .