PRESS GUIDE

Pasha Records, famous for being the home of Quiet Riot, has sent forth its second heavy metal band. That band is Kick Axe from Canada.

Kick Axe was formed in Regina, Canada, in 1976 by Larry Gillstrom (g) and Victor Langen (b, vo). At the time, they were heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, and the sound they created was close to what you might call 1970s British hard rock. Because the foundation for rock was not yet fully established in Canada back then, young hard rock bands were rarely accepted anywhere. As a result, they spent their time touring and performing live mainly in northern Canada.

Later on, the band grew to the point of touring major clubs across western Canada, eventually adding Milwaukee-born George Criston (vo), Larry’s real brother Vice Brian Gillstrom (ds), and Raymond Arthur Harvey (g) to the lineup. Consequently, they signed a contract with Starcomm Management, a management company that also represents the famous band Streetheart in Canada.

Spencer Proffer, president of Pasha Records and producer of Streetheart's "Dancing with Danger" album, happened to see Kick Axe perform in Edmonton. Knocked out by their intense live performance, Spencer signed a contract with them right after the show.

Their debut album, "Vices", scheduled for release in Japan by CBS in October, was produced by Spencer himself.

In a word, their sound is exactly what bands on the US West Coast are collectively producing right now—a very pleasant, calculated hard rock sound that is comfortable to listen to. They pay meticulous attention to details, including the drum sound. The vocal harmonies, which often feature five-part arrangements, serve as an excellent textbook example for kids currently playing in bands. They have also incorporated special audio processing that is particularly noticeable when listening with headphones, so comparing the sound through speakers versus headphones is another fun way to enjoy it.