When seeing the band name Axe Dragger…I wonder why they did not choose the name Axe Dagger??? Anyway, you must scream in your highest power metal voice.. AXE DRAGGGGGEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

From their bio: American heavy metal supergroup Axe Dragger (featuring current and former members of Fu Manchu, Pantera, Dark Funeral, and Pentagram) team up with Metal Injection…. Born from the long-distance communion of Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch and ex-Pentagram drummer Pete Campbell, the project achieved legendary status with the additions of original Pantera vocalist Terry Glaze and Dark Funeral bassist Fredrik Isaksson.

So while a bunch of us writers were figuring out who would review a band with quite a name like this, I took one for the team, never having heard them before. I sure am glad I did. This debut album combines all the original elements of the origins of Heavy Metal. This debut is rooted in pure 80’s metal bliss. From the power metal-y galloping melodies of Iron Maiden to Priest, Manilla Road, and Armored Saint, I gotta tell you, this album rules.

The world gets smaller every day. So I post on their page, I would be doing a review for our site, and the band responds, is this the same Frank Rini from Internal Bleeding? I said I was, and then they responded they were big fans of my vocal work – so I chest pounded a little bit and then cranked the album even more; very cool moment. These are 10 original songs in 40 minutes – so put on that battle gear and let’s ride that Rainbow in the Dark and March towards the Saint together on this review.

The band name song erupts with a monstrous power metal scream, and you know this is gonna be a good one. Very catchy vocal tones and the band name is screamed multiple times… ‘Axe Dragger…ALWAYS CREEPING AROUND, CREEPING AROUND!!’. I mean, it does not get more metal than that. Excellent pounding metal, played with chest thumping pride. The musicianship is really good, and we get a neat classic guitar solo in the middle of the song. There is a lot of Manilla Road and Dio influence in this song, and it only gets better from here on out. “Give You The Rope” is up next with its quicker pace and catchy chorus repeating ‘Gonna Give You The Rope’. A terrific guitar solo erupts, and then the chorus comes in with some extra guitar melodies. The rhythm section works well, and it’s all tight-sounding.

“Iron Rider” has 1985 written all over it. We even get a little influence ala RATT, on this with the vocal lines, and on the verge of hair metal, but not quite there. That’s how I looked at RATT. They always skirted the line, but they were heavier than hair metal bands, so they always had one foot in that scene. This song even absorbs a little Raven to their sound, especially in the vocal department, and the song is up beat and you can’t help but smile while this song is played. The song slows down, and we are gifted with another terrific guitar solo and if you’re not holding up your metal horns during this moment, then I need to walk you into my Metal 101 class that I instruct on Mondays from 2pm-11:59 pm, weekly. “El Toro” is a quicker-paced song, getting right into that power metal galloping action. More creative vocal lines with catchy hooks and guitar melodies. The bass guitar is in there, but not heavily mixed in, it’s there just enough.

“Death is Calling My Name” ends this debut album, and if you are not envisioning DIO (RIP) crawling through a castle with a sword, bigger than him, then you do not know your classic metal. This has a crawling, deliberate pace, where I can envision the band and fans headbanging in unison. Vocals are spoken/whispered to add atmosphere, and then more of the metal vocals come forward as the song reaches certain crescendo spots. More guitar solos erupt, and a little King Diamond scream gets thrown in for good measure.

Heavy Metal has always been about imagery, and the band actually has a great logo to go along with their tongue-in-cheek band name. The album cover…well come on….if that demon showed up on my doorstep I would give it the middle finger and say “Hey bruh, I ain’t taking you seriously”…then said demon would shamefully walk away from my home with his head draped in dejection. Poor ‘lil fella.

Outside of the cover this debut album is outstanding. It sounds like it was recorded in 1985 and crafted with a 2026 production. This sounds organic, and the musicianship is pure with unbelievably catchy songs. I would expect nothing less, given who is in the band. Here is the perfect tour, if Axe Dragger came out in 1985: Dio, Armored Saint, Manilla Road, Omen, Axe Dragger. Scorching and true metal, and I really hope this is not a one-and-done album. What the hell are you waiting for?!? Go and get this album now, or “The Damned Will Cry”.

[Visit the band's website]

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