Look out Van Halen, Quiet Riot and the Scorpions! Kick Axe is choping its way through the dense underbrush of heavy metal mediocrity with its eye toward the top. And if this young band is marketed and promoted properly, it'll be up there faster than most people think.
Kick Axe, a Vancouver-based quintet, is loud and brash like Ozzy Osbourne, but more refreshing because it sounds less droning, making fellow Canadian "rockers" Loverboy sound like Anne Murray. The power, passion and the prowess bursting on cuts such as "Alive and Kicking", "On the Road to Rock", "Just Passin' Through" and "Heavy Metal Shuffle" explode from the vinyl like many of the cuts from Van Halen's debut effort. This is especially remarkable from an upstart band.
The forecast for Kick Axe also looks brighter because Spencer Proffer, who is partially responsible for Quiet Riot's swift ascension to the hard rock pinnacle, is producer. Consequently, the production is clean and crisp. All the band needs is more time to secure loose ends and mature. They've got the spirit and the weapons, and their album is hitting the streets when interest in heavy metal is at a premium.
