NOW!

Former Dirty Tricks vocalist Kenny Stewart is back with his 2nd solo LP, a full band, including former Dirty Tricks mate and Rogue Male Johnny Fraser Binnie on guitar, in tow this time. A lot of what I had to say in the review of his first offering that can still be found here at Hellride would hold true for this release to. There is a back and forth between quite enjoyable catchiness and almost irritating repetitiveness, thankfully more weighted more heavily toward the former. There is a very real and palpable organic quality to this; you can tell he and the band really mean it. No pretentions here, just letting fly with their musical inclinations, for better or worse and all else be damned.

NOW!

There is a raw, down and dirty feel to a lot of the rock music that finds its way out of Australia and Heaven The Axe are no exception. What separates them from the herd is that they are fronted by a blonde, in your face force that is Phoebe Pinnock (strewth, a Sheila!). She appears all the more glamorous when you see her surrounded by the rest of the hairy bearded blokes that make up the band. While the novelty might pique people’s interest at first, it’s the music that counts. Does it deliver? Well, yes and no. Certainly, they have a sound that has appeal. The guys have been in various metal bands down under and their craft and graft shines through. The result is scuzzy, sleazy riffs that are cranked out hard, fast and sharp enough to give you a buzz cut. In Pinnock they have a singer who has a lusty voice that’s the equal of the metal around her. Vocally, she’s very reminiscent of Alanis Morrisette and, to a lesser extent, Linda Perry of Four Non-Blondes fame. While those artists in the 90s pushed the fact that women didn’t need to dress like Britney to sell records, Phoebe takes the Britney route and straps on a leather bra and would slide down a greasy pole to get your attention.