Stone Axe - Stone Axe (Burning World/Roadburn)
By Chris Barnes
September 5, 2009

Hoo boy! Stone Axe elicits involuntary foot stomps, air guitar twirls and makes my head shake like a big bald bobble-head doll. Stone Axe is more than just “70’s inspired rock” – it’s “70’s inspired Classic Rock”. The riff in “Riders Of The Night” alone is ambrosia served on a silver platter for the Rock Gods, dripping with hot buttered groove, luscious licks and salacious tone.

Tony Dallas Reed is the gifted multi-instrumentalist/vocalist that is behind Stone Axe, probably better known (up until now, that is) as 1/3 of the great progenitors of the modern 70’s sound, Mos Generator. Tony started Stone Axe in 2007 with Dru Brinkerhoff on vocals and then recruited Mykey Haslip (drums) and Mike Dupont (bass) to round out the live band. Tony wrote, recorded and produced both the Stone Axe debut and it’s follow-up, Extended Play. The dude, unquestionably, is of prodigious talent.
As amazing as Tony is, Stone Axe wouldn’t be quite the same without Dru’s considerable vocal presence. He’s David Coverdale, Paul Rodgers, Jack Bruce and Phil Lynott all rolled into one long-haired dude in sunglasses. His powerful and passionate delivery over Tony’s wah-soaked soloing and synth break in the jaw-dropping “My Darkest Days” would feel right at home on Houses of The Holy. He drops his best Phil Lynott as Tony wields both guitar and rhythm section for the very Lizzy-ish barnburner “Taking Me Home” the high boogie energy ala’ The Faces of “There’d Be Days”, and his effortless voice pushed into a whiskey-grizzled delivery in the Faustian-bargain banger “Diamonds and Fools”. Nowhere though, are the pair matched up better than in the ode-to-a-spaceship epic “The Skylah Rae”. Good God, the two of these guys are a contenders for a match-up of the greats… Plant/Page, Young/Scott, Blackmore/Coverdale.

If Classic Rock still gives you goosebumps and takes you back to a better, vanished time, then Stone Axe might be worthy of your attention. At the very least, the album is a case study on a successful multi-instrumentalist solo recording. Endeavors like this are rarely successful, Stone Axe beats the odds and belongs on your shelf next to the classics. A truly remarkable recording that’ll make you feel like good ol’ rock n’ roll can still be a creative force to be reckoned with in an era of corporate-created, vapid and disposable Pop-centric one hit wonders.

Purchase Stone Axe at the Hellride Music Superstore

Listen to an MP3 of Riders Of The Night

Visit the Stone Axe website at www.myspace.com/stoneaxe

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Arzgarth

These guys are great. Beyond great, even.

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I love it when you crawl

luciferburns

After seeing them live just a day or so ago at SHoD X made a believer out of me.

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do what tho wilt and harm none, shall be the whole of the law.

Samarithan

I came here to say what he said.

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I think I must be doomed... I don't feel at all well.

luciferburns

We should get together and say what each other says more often
Afterall we're right you know

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do what tho wilt and harm none, shall be the whole of the law.

deadgoat666

I too was floored by their set at SHOD! Picked up the disc and already rocked it multiple times. One of my favorite early bands to play the fest, although I don't think there was a bad one in the bunch!

Klaus

STONE AXE is a great band, and Tony Reed is not only an excellent musician but also a very friendly guy. Here's an interview I did with him:

http://www.cosmiclava.com/reviews-in...2009/stoneaxe/

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