J.. first-hand eXJl.erience

Axemaster:
_D.ainin!J.. first-hand eXJl.erience
by Brian Gomez
For many a band working to move beyond the
bar circuit, releasing a
single or an EPlocally is the
usual first step forward. For
the Kent-based Axemaster,
it was releasing a nine-song
LP that was distributed
throughout
America and
Europe.
After testing the waters
with a self-financed
cas-.
sette demo entitled SLAVE
TO THE BLADE in 1986, the
band set their sights on
getting widespread
distribution for theirfirst album.
They achieved their goal in
late 1987 with the release
of BLESSING IN THE SKIES
on Los Angeles-based
Azra
Records.
Plenty of pre'iiminary
research,
mailings
and phone calls, plus a lot
of patience were necessary to make it happen.
"It was a lengthy process," remarked
Axemasterguitarist
Joe Sims. "Our
agent, Cherie Simones, is
great at turning
nothing
into something
useful. It
started when she took the
Songwriter's
Index and
found all the independent
labels thatwere
open to
heavy metal.We sent them
all a cover letter about the
band. The ones that sent us
letters back, we then sent
tapes to. Azra showed the
most interest and we spent
about four months negotiating with them."
Shortly after releasing
the band's
lP, Azra included Axemaster's "Slave
To The Blade" on a fiveband
compilation
EP,
METAlGON.
This past
November; Azra released
Axemaster's
lHE VISION
picture
disc, giving the
band three releases in a'
twelve-month.
period.
The past year-and-a-half
has provided
a crash
course in all aspects of the
record industry, with much
learnijlg
as they went
along. like many a musician sizing up a first record in retrospect, Sims can
find a few things he'd now
change.
"I think maybe we did
cry too many different
:hings on the first album,"
1e said. "The styles range
'rom real experimental
netal to more' commercial
lard rock. One of the
iroblems with it was that
ve thought we should put
couple songs on the aliurn that were commercial
Brian Henderson, Joe Sims, Jim Newcomb and Terr(Yliison
enough to get some airplay. So we included 'Rock
Forever' and 'Without
A
Trace' on it. 'Rock Forever'
did get airplay on WRQK,
but it was the only song
they played. And that's not
really indicative of what'
the band's about."
Pushing for the inclusion
of the aforementioned
two
songs was lead vocalist!
bassist Chris Michael, who
left the band in late sum. mer. Vocalist Terry Wilson
and bassist Jim Newcomb
soon after joined up with
Sims and co-founding
drummer Brian Henderson
in a revamped four-piece
Axemaster. Explained Sims,
"We wanted more movementinthestageshow,so
we decided
to go fourpiece off the bat when
Chris left."
The current edition of
Axemaster brings together
a long list of divergent inf lue n ce s , The band's
'voluminous
press kit includesapagethatliststheir
fave musicians, including
various
players
from
Queensryche,
Metallica,
Dio, Hawkwing,
Helloween,
led
Zeppelin,
Motorhead,BlackSabbath
and King Diamond.
"But
only musically,
not the
lyrics," the steadfastly antiSatanist Sims was quick to
comment concerning the
Demonic Dane Diamond.
When asked to focus the
variable Axemaster style in
more certain terms, Sims
had a ready response.
HOur major influence
would be the bands that
experiment
with a lot of
different
things
in one
song," he said. "Trying dif-
(from left)
ferent progressions,
dif- ( commented.
"I personally
ferent rhythms and so on.
love horror
movies. But
In 'The Rimeofthe Ancient
some bands take it so far
Mariner' by Iron Maiden
hat it can be considered
for instance, there are a
Satanist. To some people,
million different
parts to
the forces of evil are seen
that song. On our new
·as strength. And one thing
songs, we do a variety of
that heavy metal fans are
ti me cha nges,
speed
into is strength. We try to
cha nges and arrangeget acrossthatthe
force of
ments. But the challenge is
good is powerful too."
to do it without smacking
Conveying an image of
people in the face with it,
strength has Long been a
so that it flows within the
requisite for lI,etal bands,
context of the song and
and a key selling point with
doesn't
call attention
to
the 16-2'1 male core segitself." .
ment of the tar!tet audiWith song titles like
. ence.
Sometimes,
how"Blood of the Temple,"
ever, that strength mani"Demon
Machine."
fests itself in images of fast
"Death Before Dishonor"
cars, guns, alcohol abuse,
and "The Reaper," some
destruction
of property
might think Axemaster
and
degradation
of
would be blood-drinking
women. Of late, thanks to
Beelzebub
buddies
with
the ruckus raised by politKing-Dia rno nd . A less'I---cursory
inspection
of
Axemaster and their lyrics
indicates
that the band
champions the strength of
God and the power
of
good deeds.
like many
metal musicians, however.
they also hold an interest
in horror themes ..
"A lot of bands will get
caught
up with horror
movie
themes,"
Sims
ical lobby
groups,
the
media has taken a closer
look at the connection
between metal and violence'
(especially
the Morton'
Sally Geraldo trash TV talk
circuit.) While not denying
the violent aspects, Sims
sees this coverage
as a
surface-level
examination
that's not entirely accurate.
lilt is often violent," he
admitted. "I'm not gonna
saythat it isn't. But violence
does not necessarily mean
evil. Metallica's lyrics, and
music.are very violent. But
they're talking about how
bad certain' situations. in
the world are. And if people-don't know how bad it
is, there's
no way it can
change for the good."
With their
next
lP,
Axernaster plan's to tackle
some of the questions of
good versusevil. "Our next
album, TOMBS OF MADNESS, will concentrate- on
the concept of the good
versus evil war that goes
on in everyone's mind,"
said Sims. "Everybody
wants to do evil. The temptation is always there"We
see it personified asa war.
The song 'Tombs of Mad-.
ness' takes place in the
tombs of your mind, where
things long forgotten and
never understood
keep
coming back to challenge
you."
The next challenge' for
Axemaster will be finQ.i']g
a new record company.
like one-time
Azra acts
Dark Angel and liege lord
have done before them,
Axernaster would like to
move on to a label with
more promotional
'clout.
Currently, they're talking
with several labels, in both
America and.in
Europe,
where the band has been
better received.
"There's this one Cerman company we're talking with," offered
Sims.
"We learned
of them
through Rainer Hirschfeld,
a band -promoterJn
Germany' who sent US.3 fan
letter. We sent him a letter
back in -.German,
which
surprised him and which
he really appreciated:
"nd
we've istayed in 10U":h,
which
another eX~lnple
of turning
nothingInto
something,"
.' , .. -:
When asked to': share
sorne.iot
the things '~lie's
learnedJn
shoppi,!g;:ibe
band's'music around;'Sfins
emphasized
the importance
taking
a v.~ry
methodical,
business-like
approach.
.
"Number one, isto def,initely.JiJ!.ve a lawyer look
everything over," he, remarked ..Hit doesn't necessarily have to be an,entertainment" lawyer, it you
can't afford one. Another
thing is.to read everything
very carefully. Never: take
it for granted that somebody isgoing to treat-you
as an ~~\.oal. It's a dog-eatdog business and people
who have experience
will
~ke ~:a~a.n@ge, of Jhos_e
who'lIon'!,"
~~, ';~
is'
pi
Good advice, but probably a lesson that's best
understood
when experienced first hand.