| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2005 | Artist Website: Final Axe |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 30:02 |
The career of vocalist Keith Miles got its start in the mid-eighties when he joined Holy Right, a Christian metal act that recorded a rough sounding and inconsistent debut album entitled Stand As One. Following the demise of Holy Right, however, Miles took a year and a half away from music before forming Final Axe with guitarist Bill Menchen in 1989. Menchen brought such a significant backlog of material with him that within a month Final Axe was able to begin work on its very fine 1989 full length East West debut Beyond Hell’s Gate. Initially a cassette only release that went out of print and subsequently became a hard to find collectors item, Beyond Hell’s Gate was re-mixed, re-mastered and re-issued with two brand new tracks by Retroactive Records in 2005.
The best way to describe Beyond Hell’s Gate would be a catchy and energetic combination of classic metal and melodic metal with an occasional thrash influence thrown in. If you happen to be a fan of Saint, Armageddon, Barren Cross, Judas Priest or Metal Church then the album comes with a strong recommendation. Miles, demonstrating a 100% improvement over his days with Holy Right, puts forth a very commendable vocal performance ranking him with contemporaries such as Josh Kramer (Saint) and Mike Vance (Armageddon). Menchen is a terrific talent who contributes a plethora of fast paced and melodic flavored lead guitar work that brings to mind David Zaffiro (Bloodgood) and Oz Fox (Stryper). Chris Lattimer and Rod Reasner comprise a tight sounding rhythm section.
It is also worth pointing out that in 2005 the Greek label Steel Legacy released Beyond Hell’s Gate on vinyl with different album artwork.
The production values to the Retroactive re-issue prove a step up when compared to the East West version. The mix, all around, has been cleaned up with the end result being the crisper and more polished sound. The rhythm guitar comes across edgier, while the lead guitar and drums stand out better in the mix. The only complaint worth mentioning, however, is that lead vocals end up mixed a bit too prominently.
Please note that two of the songs from the East West version of Beyond Hell’s Gate did not make it onto the Retroactive re-issue. The first, “Beyond Hell’s Gate”, is a brief instrumental that segues from angelic voices and ringing bells to eerie sound effects with boiling lava in the background. In the end, the loss of this song is of little consequence in that it proves non-essential to the albums value. The second is another instrumental entitled “:45 Scream” in which Menchen displays all his licks and chops. While the exclusion of “:45 Scream” is disappointing, it, likewise, is also considered non-essential.
Opening to a brief drums solo, the thrash influenced “Baptized In Blood” kicks in to a driving riff that aggressively propels it to a strong hard hitting chorus. A fiery guitar solo helps bring out the best in a song with a message every bit as powerful as the music:
They took Him down and wrapped Him up
They placed Him in a tomb
They sealed the door thinking they could hold Him in that room
They never knew that He died
To save man from His sin
He won the war and conquered death
The day He rose again
But I've been baptized in blood...
The straightforward hard rocker “Are You Ready” really comes to life as a result of the stronger production values of the Retroactive re-issue. Advancing through its first verse in a steady guitar driven fashion, the song peaks for a chorus carried at a resounding upbeat tempo.
“No Time To Die” takes off quickly to a fast paced riff only to taper off to a heavier rhythm guitar sound upon reaching its first verse. Once the song reaches its infectious chorus, however, the fast paced riff returns with just the right amount of edge. The only complaint I have here is that Miles' scripture reading from Matthew 25:29-30 found on the East West version has been eliminated.
Introduced to several seconds of pleasing melodic rhythm guitar harmony, “Soldier Of Compromise” slows upon reaching its first verse prior to picking up in pace for a chorus with a catchy hook that will pull you in and refuse to let go. Menchen’s first rate lead guitar work drives a sweeping instrumental passage.
"Blind Faith", the first of the two new songs, is an average-to-good mid-tempo paced hard rocker that does not quite rank with the albums better material. While the song flows quite well during its verse portions, it hits a wall upon obtaining a chorus held back by its all around repetitious feel.
The thrash flavored “Close To Deliverance” kicks in to a fast paced, double bass driven riff, the momentum gained by the song during its verse portions taking it to a pugnacious chorus in which Miles adds an element of girt and gravel to his vocal delivery. “Close To Deliverance” is influenced by the book of Revelation:
There's going to be a time at the end of the world
When darkness and evil rules
People will turn away to accept the mark
But they condemn themselves as fools
Are you going to take a chance?
So close to deliverance...
"Thrown In The Fire" is by far the albums strongest track. The pounding riff at the start of the song gives way to a crunchy rhythm guitar that shores up its verse portions hard and heavy. Slowing to a near standstill, “Thrown In The Fire” culminates for a huge anthem-like chorus buttressed by the same pounding riff opening it. “Thrown In The Fire” details Satan’s final destination:
Oh, Satan, you live like you're a disease
Infecting those who you please
Twisting all of their minds
But soon you'll find you're thrown in the fire...
The commercial hard rock of “Don’t Run Away” immediately pulls you in with its catchy hook. Advancing through its first verse at a slower, more mid-tempo pace, “Don’t Run Away” gains momentum as it attains a chorus backed in a catchy manner by vocal harmonies.
Taking off to a literal wall of rhythm guitar, “War Cry” is driven ahead strong and steady until it peaks for a chorus in which Miles’ vocal delivery is accentuated by a touch of echo and reverb. I wish the band had expanded upon an instrumental passage limited to a few brief seconds of lead guitar.
“Rated X” is the second of the new songs. Gradually fading in, “Rated X” progresses through its first verse at a quickly moving upbeat tempo prior to peaking for a chorus delivered in forceful fashion. Similar to “Blind Faith”, “Rated X” lacks a hook strong enough that would allow it to rank it with the albums stronger compositions. I do like how Menchen closes the song with several seconds of bluesy lead guitar work. “Rated X” talks about an individual addicted to pornography:
You can't get enough from your magazines, you're lust you can't control
Your flesh is never satisfied, and sin will takes its toll
But I know of a true love, it's something you can't buy
In closing, give a great deal of credit to Retroactive Records for making Beyond Hell’s Gate available for the first time in years. The album proves quite the consistent listen in that I only hit the skip button once or twice. "No Time To Die", "Soldier Of Compromise", and "Don't Run Away" all stand out with their catchy melodies; however, the more aggressive sounds of "Thrown In The Fire", "Baptized In Blood" and "Close To Deliverance" hold up equally well. Final Axe proved a talented band that, unfortunately, was not around long enough to reach its potential; if given the opportunity to release two or three additional albums, they would be mentioned today in the same sentence with Barren Cross and Saint.
Please note that in 2005 Miles and Menchen returned to the studio to complete the recording process of Final Axe’s sophomore effort Burn In Hell under the new title The Axe Of The Apostles.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Baptized In Blood" (2:43), "Are You Ready?" (2:46), "No Time To Die" (2:55), "Soldier Of Compromise" (4:16), "Blind Faith" (3:00), "Close To Deliverance" (2:07), "Thrown In The Fire" (3:04), "Don’t Run Away" (3:33), "War Cry" (2:41), "Rated X" (3:24)
Musicians
Keith Miles – Lead Vocals
Bill Menchen – Guitars
Rod Reasner – Bass
Chris Lattimer - Drums
Also reviewed: Final Axe – The Axe Of The Apostles, Menchen - Red Rock, Redeemer - Double Edge Sword, Redeemer - Anno Domini, Rev Seven - Heavy Laden Volume 1, Rev Seven - Heavy Laden Volume 2, The Seventh Power - The Seventh Power, Titanic – Screaming In Silence, Titanic - Full Steam Ahead, Titanic - Wreckage
Reference List
Arnold, Christy. "Final Axe Interview." Take A Stand (May 1990): 1-2.
"Metal Tracks." Heaven's Metal 28 (1990): 25.
