Axemaster: _D.ainin!J.. first-hand eXJl.erience by Brian Gomez For many a band work- ing 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 distri- bution 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 neces- sary to make it happen. "It was a lengthy pro- cess," remarked Axemas- terguitarist 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 nego- tiating with them." Shortly after releasing the band's lP, Azra in- cluded Axemaster's "Slave To The Blade" on a five- band 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 mu- sician sizing up a first rec- ord 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 al- iurn that were commercial Brian Henderson, Joe Sims, Jim Newcomb and Terr(Yliison (from left) enough to get some air- ferent progressions, dif- ( commented. "I personally play. So we included 'Rock ferent rhythms and so on. love horror movies. But Forever' and 'Without A In 'The Rimeofthe Ancient some bands take it so far Trace' on it. 'Rock Forever' Mariner' by Iron Maiden hat it can be considered did get airplay on WRQK, for instance, there are a Satanist. To some people, but it was the only song million different parts to the forces of evil are seen they played. And that's not that song. On our new ·as strength. And one thing really indicative of what' songs, we do a variety of that heavy metal fans are the band's about." ti me cha nges, speed into is strength. We try to Pushing for the inclusion cha nges and arrange- get acrossthatthe force of of the aforementioned two ments. But the challenge is good is powerful too." songs was lead vocalist! to do it without smacking Conveying an image of bassist Chris Michael, who people in the face with it, strength has Long been a left the band in late sum- so that it flows within the requisite for lI,etal bands, . mer. Vocalist Terry Wilson context of the song and and a key selling point with and bassist Jim Newcomb doesn't call attention to the 16-2'1 male core seg- soon after joined up with itself." . ment of the tar!tet audi- Sims and co-founding With song titles like . ence. Sometimes, how- drummer Brian Henderson "Blood of the Temple," ever, that strength mani- in a revamped four-piece "Demon Machine." fests itself in images of fast Axemaster. Explained Sims, "Death Before Dishonor" cars, guns, alcohol abuse, "We wanted more move- and "The Reaper," some destruction of property mentinthestageshow,so might think Axemaster and degradation of we decided to go four- would be blood-drinking women. Of late, thanks to piece off the bat when Beelzebub buddies with the ruckus raised by polit- Chris left." King-Dia rno nd . A less'I---- The current edition of cursory inspection of Axemaster brings together Axemaster and their lyrics a long list of divergent in- indicates that the band f lue n ce s , The band's champions the strength of 'voluminous press kit in- God and the power of cludesapagethatliststheir good deeds. like many fave musicians, including metal musicians, however. various players from they also hold an interest Queensryche, Metallica, in horror themes .. Dio, Hawkwing, Hello- "A lot of bands will get ween, led Zeppelin, caught up with horror Motorhead,BlackSabbath movie themes," Sims and King Diamond. "But only musically, not the lyrics," the steadfastly anti- Satanist 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- ical lobby groups, the media has taken a closer look at the connection be- tween 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 peo- ple-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 MAD- NESS, 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 temp- tation 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 Cer- man company we're talk- ing with," offered Sims. "We learned of them through Rainer Hirschfeld, a band -promoterJn Ger- many' 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 is' 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 impor- tance pi taking a v.~ry methodical, business-like approach. . "Number one, isto def- ,initely.JiJ!.ve a lawyer look everything over," he, re- marked ..Hit doesn't neces- sarily have to be an,enter- tainment" lawyer, it you can't afford one. Another thing is.to read everything very carefully. Never: take it for granted that some- body isgoing to treat-you as an ~~\.oal. It's a dog-eat- dog business and people who have experience will ~ke ~:a~a.n@ge, of Jhos_e who'lIon'!," ~~, ';~ Good advice, but prob- ably a lesson that's best understood when experi- enced first hand.
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Axemaster:
_D.ainin!J.. first-hand eXJl.erienceby Brian Gomez
For many a band work-ing to move beyond thebar circuit, releasing asingle or an EPlocally is theusual first step forward. Forthe Kent-based Axemaster,it was releasing a nine-songLP that was distributedthroughout America andEurope.After testing the waters
with a self-financed cas-.sette demo entitled SLAVETO THE BLADE in 1986, theband set their sights ongetting widespread distri-bution for theirfirst album.They achieved their goal inlate 1987 with the releaseof BLESSING IN THE SKIESon Los Angeles-based AzraRecords. Plenty of pre-
'iiminary research, mailingsand phone calls, plus a lotof patience were neces-sary to make it happen."It was a lengthy pro-
cess," remarked Axemas-terguitarist Joe Sims. "Ouragent, Cherie Simones, isgreat at turning nothinginto something useful. Itstarted when she took theSongwriter's Index andfound all the independentlabels thatwere open toheavy metal.We sent themall a cover letter about theband. The ones that sent usletters back, we then senttapes to. Azra showed themost interest and we spentabout four months nego-tiating with them."Shortly after releasing
the band's lP, Azra in-cluded Axemaster's "SlaveTo The Blade" on a five-band compilation EP,METAlGON. This pastNovember; Azra releasedAxemaster's lHE VISIONpicture disc, giving theband three releases in a'twelve-month. period.The past year-and-a-half
has provided a crashcourse in all aspects of therecord industry, with muchlearnijlg as they wentalong. like many a mu-sician sizing up a first rec-ord in retrospect, Sims canfind a few things he'd nowchange."I think maybe we did
cry too many different:hings on the first album,"1e said. "The styles range'rom real experimentalnetal to more' commerciallard rock. One of theiroblems with it was thatve thought we should putcouple songs on the al-iurn that were commercial
Brian Henderson, Joe Sims, Jim Newcomb and Terr(Yliison (from left)
enough to get some air- ferent progressions, dif- ( commented. "I personallyplay. So we included 'Rock ferent rhythms and so on. love horror movies. ButForever' and 'Without A In 'The Rimeofthe Ancient some bands take it so farTrace' on it. 'Rock Forever' Mariner' by Iron Maiden hat it can be considereddid get airplay on WRQK, for instance, there are a Satanist. To some people,but it was the only song million different parts to the forces of evil are seenthey played. And that's not that song. On our new ·as strength. And one thingreally indicative of what' songs, we do a variety of that heavy metal fans arethe band's about." ti me cha nges, speed into is strength. We try toPushing for the inclusion cha nges and arrange- get acrossthatthe force of
of the aforementioned two ments. But the challenge is good is powerful too."songs was lead vocalist! to do it without smacking Conveying an image ofbassist Chris Michael, who people in the face with it, strength has Long been aleft the band in late sum- so that it flows within the requisite for lI,etal bands,. mer. Vocalist Terry Wilson context of the song and and a key selling point withand bassist Jim Newcomb doesn't call attention to the 16-2'1 male core seg-soon after joined up with itself." . ment of the tar!tet audi-Sims and co-founding With song titles like . ence. Sometimes, how-drummer Brian Henderson "Blood of the Temple," ever, that strength mani-in a revamped four-piece "Demon Machine." fests itself in images of fastAxemaster. Explained Sims, "Death Before Dishonor" cars, guns, alcohol abuse,"We wanted more move- and "The Reaper," some destruction of propertymentinthestageshow,so might think Axemaster and degradation ofwe decided to go four- would be blood-drinking women. Of late, thanks topiece off the bat when Beelzebub buddies with the ruckus raised by polit-Chris left." King-Dia rno nd . A less'I----The current edition of cursory inspection of
Axemaster brings together Axemaster and their lyricsa long list of divergent in- indicates that the bandf lue n ce s , The band's champions the strength of'voluminous press kit in- God and the power ofcludesapagethatliststheir good deeds. like manyfave musicians, including metal musicians, however.various players from they also hold an interestQueensryche, Metallica, in horror themes ..Dio, Hawkwing, Hello- "A lot of bands will getween, led Zeppelin, caught up with horrorMotorhead,BlackSabbath movie themes," Simsand King Diamond. "Butonly musically, not thelyrics," the steadfastly anti-Satanist Sims was quick tocomment concerning theDemonic Dane Diamond.When asked to focus thevariable Axemaster style inmore certain terms, Simshad a ready response.
HOur major influencewould be the bands thatexperiment with a lot ofdifferent things in onesong," he said. "Trying dif-
ical lobby groups, themedia has taken a closerlook at the connection be-tween metal and violence'(especially the Morton'Sally Geraldo trash TV talkcircuit.) While not denyingthe violent aspects, Simssees this coverage as asurface-level examinationthat's not entirely accurate.
lilt is often violent," headmitted. "I'm not gonnasaythat it isn't. But violencedoes not necessarily meanevil. Metallica's lyrics, andmusic.are very violent. Butthey're talking about howbad certain' situations. inthe world are. And if peo-ple-don't know how bad itis, there's no way it canchange for the good."With their next lP,
Axernaster plan's to tacklesome of the questions ofgood versusevil. "Our nextalbum, TOMBS OF MAD-NESS, will concentrate- onthe concept of the goodversus evil war that goeson in everyone's mind,"said Sims. "Everybodywants to do evil. The temp-tation is always there"Wesee it personified asa war.The song 'Tombs of Mad-.ness' takes place in thetombs of your mind, wherethings long forgotten andnever understood keepcoming back to challengeyou."The next challenge' for
Axemaster will be finQ.i']ga new record company.like one-time Azra actsDark Angel and liege lordhave done before them,Axernaster would like to
move on to a label withmore promotional 'clout.Currently, they're talkingwith several labels, in bothAmerica and.in Europe,where the band has beenbetter received.
"There's this one Cer-man company we're talk-ing with," offered Sims."We learned of themthrough Rainer Hirschfeld,a band -promoterJn Ger-many' who sent US.3 fanletter. We sent him a letterback in -.German, whichsurprised him and whichhe really appreciated: "ndwe've istayed in 10U":h,which is' another eX~lnpleof turning nothingIntosomething," .' , .. -:When asked to': share
sorne.iot the things '~lie'slearnedJn shoppi,!g;:ibeband's'music around;'Sfinsemphasized the impor-tance pi taking a v.~rymethodical, business-likeapproach. ."Number one, isto def-
,initely.JiJ!.ve a lawyer lookeverything over," he, re-marked ..Hit doesn't neces-sarily have to be an,enter-tainment" lawyer, it youcan't afford one. Anotherthing is.to read everythingvery carefully. Never: takeit for granted that some-body isgoing to treat-youas an ~~\.oal. It's a dog-eat-dog business and peoplewho have experience will~ke ~:a~a.n@ge, of Jhos_ewho'lIon'!," ~~, ';~
Good advice, but prob-ably a lesson that's bestunderstood when experi-enced first hand.
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