Stone Axe: Stone Axe II Deluxe Edition

Stone Axe might well be the most prolific stoner rock band these days. They have released two full-length albums, split singles, EPs, love vinyl in various formats (7", 10" and 12"). Oh, and there are different editions of their albums for the USA and Europe, too. Keeping track can be hard, since most of their one-off's appear on small labels specializing in (very) limited runs. With the release of Stone Axe II as a Deluxe 2CD set, fans of the band are treated to over an hour of those rarities on the second disc.

Core band members Dru Brinkerhoff (vocals) and Tony Teed (all instruments) don't do filler. Making sure that every note counts they bring back the ghosts of Thin Lizzy (Those Were The Golden Years) can do Cream better than Cream themselves could (at least nowadays), with a high energy cover of SWLABR.

Tony Reed is self-styled Seventies rock archivalist and he has internalized every hook and riff from that era. Thankfully he doesn't fal into the trap of epigonism, but he has found his own style, a rumbling sound that come to the fore in instrumentals like the galloping Stonin' and the monumental closer of the set, Transmissions (pt2). Brinkerhoff's finest moments are the bluesy Shine On and the trashy throat ripper Metal Damage. Stone Axe that can sound dangerous even when the play acoustic. Chasing Dragons off the original album makes you look over you shoulder to make sure that the nightmarish creature isn't lurking in the corner of the room.

Stone Axe:
Dru Brinkerhoff: vocals
Tony Reed: guitar
Mykey Haslip: drums
Mike DuPont: bass

Stone Axe - 2 Disc Expanded Edition and the LP are released on Ripple Music. Release date: April 10th (April 2nd in the UK).

CD 1 Old Soul We Know It’s Still Rock n Roll Chasing Dragons Live For The Day Those Were The Golden Years On With The Show Ain’t Gonna Miss It One More Time Before I Die Just A Little Bit Turned To Stone

CD 2 SWLABR Black Widow Shine On Rhinoceros King of Everything When I Came Down Taking Me Home(live) Stonin’ The Devil’s Hand Metal Damage For All That Fly Nightwolf The Last Setting Sun Slice the Darkness Transmissions (pt2)

Live dates:

• 03/02 Tumbledown @ The Manette Saloon & Side bar, Bremerton, WA (acoustic)
• 03/03 Helter Skelter Lounge, Poulsbo, WA
• 03/10 Slim's Last Chance, Seattle, WA (w/ Vaporland)
• 03/17 Casey's Bbar and Grill, Belfair, WA (w/ Klementine)
• 03/30 Hell's Kitchen STONEFREE (Stone Axe perform the music of FREE), Tacoma, WA (w/ Electric Falcons)
• 03/31 Coo Coo'S Nest, Port Angeles, WA
• 04/06 Desertfest, London, UK
• 04/10 The Rambler, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• 04/14 The Vortex, Siegen Germany

More European shows will be announced shortly. Stone Axe: Captured Live! Roadburn Festival 2011, recorded at last year's Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, The Netherlands, will be released soon.

Video: Stone Axe - Chasing Dragons

» stoneaxeband.com