{"title":"Axe","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"offering-4","title":"Offering","description":"\u003cp\u003eFully Remastered Audio \/ Florida’s cleaver wielding quintet sharpen their sound for album #3 \/ Produced by Al Nalli (Blackfoot, Brownsville Station, MORE) \/ Includes ‘Now Or Never’, ‘Burn The City Down’ \u0026amp; ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Party In The Streets’ \/ 12 page full-colour booklet, 3,000 word essay \u0026amp; enhanced artwork The name Axe probably conjures up visions of a seething and full-on heavy metal band and, although there’s nothing wrong with that, this band are far more nuanced. In fact, the band’s music, whilst definitely hard rock, is imbued with accessible elements of melody and precision. The songs are well written and produced, with the apparent acknowledgement of a need to advance their craft towards a classy, perhaps more commercial, focal point. Guitarist and vocalist Bobby Bath formed the band in Gainsville, Florida during the late seventies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Initially named Babyface, they mutated into Axe after a couple of years and signed to MCA, issuing two reasonably well received albums of pomp\/melodic rock before switching record label to Atco records and releasing ‘Offering’ in 1982. Produced by manager Al Nalli (well known for his association with Blackfoot), the record gave the band a new lease of life and attracted praise for its direct approach and concise song writing. It was also a record that found the band playing to bigger audiences in the USA, supporting the Scorpions, KISS and Judas Priest, whilst attracting unexpected airplay with songs such as ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Party In The Streets’ and ‘Now Or Never’. It also includes a superlative cover of the Montrose classic ‘I Got The Fire’, which manages to burn as brightly as the original. Dipping back into their more complex previous music, the six minute long ‘Silent Soldiers’ showcases the band in full-on pomp rock glory but with a much heavier edge than they had before.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rock Candy Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50407465582923,"sku":"2179443","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Axe_-_Offering_19ba4631_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726598069"},{"product_id":"living-on-the-edge-2","title":"Living On The Edge","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpecial Deluxe Collector’s Edition \/ Fully Remastered Audio shaped from 24 bit digital technology \/ Including Living On the Edge, Fantasy of Love and Carry On \/ 12- page full colour booklet – 3,000-word essay, enhanced artwork, and new interviews. With their self-titled debut album generating quite a stir on the hard rock scene, Axe then delivered their glorious second album ‘Living On The Edge’ another Melodic Pomp Rock masterpiece for the MCA\/CURB label. Produced by Tony Reale, a man whose credits encompassed a wide variety of acts, from pop music to edgier rock, the sound drew heavily from the melodic rock sounds of the time and is blessed with pin-point vocal harmonies and lavish arrangements. It was the sound of an exciting new rock act pushing their way to the front of the pack, looking to capitalise on their hunger and demonstrating great compositional skills. Strange then that the label decided to issue a cover song as the album’s first track; ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)’ originally cut by the Four Tops. It was clear that MCA had very little understanding of the band’s fan base, preferring instead to pitch them as a pop outfit without defining their real style. The album’s final song ‘For A Little While’ is a far more representative track, blending melody and power with a well-developed Pomp Rock sheen. In common with many other acts from this era, the behind-the-scenes machinations of the business was about to rear its ugly head. Sadly, for Axe, their label president was replaced, and the band were let go. But fortunately, there was a light at the end of the tunnel when they signed to ATCO records and begun a new chapter in their career, with the recording of ‘Offering’ also reissued by Rock Candy Records\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rock Candy Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50823609745739,"sku":"2229104","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Axe_-_Living_On_The_Edge_e96cb7b3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1731474589"},{"product_id":"axe","title":"Axe","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpecial Deluxe Collector’s Edition \/ Fully Remastered Audio shaped from 24 bit digital technology \/ Includes Back on the Streets, Life’s Just an Illusion and Forever \/ 16- page full colour booklet – 3,000-word essay, enhanced artwork, and new interviews. Back in the late 70’s melodic hard rock was blossoming with bands such as Foreigner, Journey and Styx forging a righteous path to gold and glory. Axe were no exception, one of many acts looking to emulate the commercial trajectory of these platinum trailblazers and make the most of what the burgeoning market had to offer. Band leader Bobby Barth took control of the act demonstrating vision and ambition. But the band at this point had already been through the ringer, having recorded an album, as Babyface, for the independent Chicago label ASI but were left with a bitter aftertaste when the producer led project didn’t represent the band’s style or ambition. After that they decided to move location upping sticks from Colorado to Gainsville, Florida where they eventually attracted the attention of MCA and in particularly a new affiliated label CURB Records, to whom they eventually signed. The label viewed Axe as a melodic rival to the big acts of the day and promptly packed them off to Los Angeles where they crafted an album of wholesome melodic\/pomp rock that was a vast improvement on their previous incarnation as Babyface. Just check out the tracks ‘Life’s Just An Illusion’, ‘Forever’, ‘Doin’ The Best That I Can’ and the epic ‘Battles’ for proof that Axe were onto something rather 7 special.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rock Candy Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50823818412363,"sku":"2229102","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Axe_-_Axe_01f79867_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1731476845"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/axe.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}