LILLIAN AXE Album Review

Lillian Axe – XI: The Days Before Tomorrow

MRI, February 2012

9/10

Lillian Axe has been on a roll for the last few years, and that streak continues with the release of XI: The Days Before Tomorrow. Guitarist and band leader Steve Blaze has always had a formidable challenge in replacing powerhouse vocalist Ron Taylor who sang on the band’s most well-known recordings (including 1993’s amazing Psychoschizophrenia album), and I thought the most recent vocalist, Derrick LeFevre, was a great fit for the band. Derrick’s now out, and in comes Brian Jones to man the mike. Although initially skeptical, Brian’s also an awesome singer with a fantastic high range that immediately won me over. Steve and the rest of the band continue to write quality, consistent material that never disappoints. The Days Before Tomorrow contains every you’d expect from Lillian Axe – great, melodic hard rock, spine-tingling melodies, and amazing guitar work that’s not over the top. Everything about this album exudes class and attention to detail. Most of the songs are slow to mid-tempo, and all have an energetic vibe that makes the album a pleasure to listen to. The clear highlight for me is “Death Comes Tomorrow”, a mellow song that incorporates piano and builds into an incredible, haunting melody in the chorus. Album opener “Babylon” and “Lava On My Tongue” are also standouts that showcase the heavier side of the band. Take it all together and The Days Before Tomorrow is yet another top addition to the band’s catalog. Most fans of melodic hard rock are already at least familiar with Lillian Axe, and if you aren’t you owe it to yourself you give a listen to this vastly underrated band.

Lillian Axe performs tonight, Friday, June 22 at Neisen’s in Savage as support to Jack Russell’s Great White with Faster Pussycat, BulletBoys, and Pretty Boy Floyd.

Here's some pictures of Lillian Axe performing August 25, 2009 at Primetime in Burnsville. Click here to read my review of that show.

In Concert This Week - June 22

This is a crazy week for concerts, so pick and choose wisely!

There’s four shows going on tonight, Friday, June 22. My pick is the quality 80s revival roadshow headlined by Jack Russell’s Great White, also featuring Faster Pussycat, BulletBoys, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Lillian Axe. Lillian Axe starts the show early at 7:00, so get there early! If radio-friendly hard rock is your thing, Collective Soul plays at The Brick in Minneapolis. Local band Severah has a show at G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley, and Station 4 in St. Paul is hosting 15 sick death metal bands (headlined by Face Of Oblivion).

Lillian Axe live at Primetime in Burnsville in 2009. Click the photo to see more pictures from this show (12).

This weekend brings the first annual River’s Edge Music Festival to Harriet Island in St. Paul. Local media have been slobbering over this for a while, but unless you’re a major Tool fan this is a steaming pile of crap. Tool headlines the first day, Saturday, June 23, in what is being billed as their only North American show this year. Coheed and Cambria is midway down the bill, but there’s nothing else of even remote interest to metal fans. It gets worse on Sunday, June 24, despite the appearance of Pusifer, with the Dave Matthews Band headlining.

There’s also a couple worthwhile local shows on Saturday. Throw The Fight continues their assault of area clubs this month with show at Dean’s Tavern in St. Paul. Meanwhile, Screaming Mechanical Brain, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, Dead Horse Trauma, Dead Bundy And The Neat Neat Neats, and Reaping Asmodia team up for a show at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

On Sunday, June 24 Korn invades Myth in St. Paul in support of their controversial new album, The Path Of Totality, with support from Sluggo and J Devil. That same night, the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis is hosting Valient Thorr, Holy Grail, Royal Thunder, and The Kickass.

Locals Saints Hesitation, Dark Cell, Ambrotos, Apothecary, Sinful Angel, and Paradise Falls perform Monday, June 25 at Station 4 in St. Paul.

An unusual bill of Volbeat, Hellyeah, and Iced Earth lands at Myth in St. Paul on Tuesday, June 26.

Finishing off the week are progressive metal legends Dream Theater with Crimson ProjeKct at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

Lillian Axe Concert Review

Lillian Axe, Mars To Mercury, Brian Heubner

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Primetime, Burnsville, MN

Having missed Lillian Axe the last time they came through St. Paul a couple years ago, I was really excited at the chance to finally see this band live. Back in the early nineties, when melodic hard rock bands like Extreme and Mr. Big reigned, it was really a shame that the excellent Psychoschizophrenia album didn’t break Lillian Axe into the mainstream. Armed with new album Sad Day On Planet Earth, the second with vocalist Derrick LeFevre, Lillian Axe opened their 2009 tour in this south Minneapolis suburb.

I arrived just as locals Mars To Mercury were finishing their set and didn’t have to wait too long for Lillian Axe to take the stage. Opening with “Crucified” from Psychoschizophrenia, Lillian Axe took the audience through a selection of songs from most their catalog during their 90+ minute show. A third of the set came from Sad Day On Planet Earth interspersed throughout the set. Highlights from the new album included “Nocturnal Symphony” and “The Grand Scale of Finality”. Surprisingly, another third of the set came from the band’s first two albums, and “Misery Loves Company” and “Dream of a Lifetime” had the crowd excited. Selections from Poetic Justice (“True Believer”), Psychoschrizophrenia (Deepfreeze), and Waters Rising (“Waters Rising” and “Antarctica”) rounded out the set. The band got an especially enthusiastic response for the back-to-back acoustic numbers “The Day That I Met You” and “Nobody Knows”. “Show A Little Love” from Love And War closed the show on a high note.

Despite the sparse attendance of about 100 people, the band showed no signs of being discouraged and looked like they were having fun on stage. Derrick LeFevre did a fantastic job of singing numbers from the entire Lillian Axe catalog, and songs from recent albums worked well alongside the classics. The real star of the show was original guitarist Steve Blaze, who displayed both an aggressive, technical flair along with the band’s quieter, melodic side. The entire band was polite and happy to meet with fans after the show. All in all, Lillian Axe proved that they are still a credible force to be reckoned with, and are well worth catching live as they continue touring behind Sad Day On Planet Earth.