The Danish band known as Witch Cross date all the way back to the early 1980's, but Axe to Grind is actually their first release since 1984's Fir For Fight. Sort of a strange fit for the otherwise very extreme minded Hells Headbangers label, Axe to Grind is a NWOBHM styled album that was mastered by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica. Morbid Angel, Blind Guardian) and mixed by Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Anvil). This is catchy, 'fist in the air' anthemic metal that probably most closely resembles early '80s Saxon or Judas Priest, with tracks such as "Metal Nation", "Demon in the Mirror", "Bird of Prey", and "Awakening Pandoras Box" filled with no shortage of crunchy riffs, tasty twin guitar harmonies, and all the clichés that you normally find in songs from that era. Musically speaking, these guys have it going on, and you can hear them rip it up on the clever instrumental title track as well as the crushing "Chelsea 100". Vocalist Kevin Moore has a good set of pipes (reminds me of Biff Byford from Saxon at times) and fits these songs well. Having joined the band only recently, he's also fronted Graham Oliver's Saxon (no surprise there) and Brian Connely's version of Sweet.
Good stuff all around, so if you love the classic metal era and especially the sounds of the NWOBHM, this little Dutch band more than fits the bill.
Track Listing
1) March of the Vikings
2) Demon in the Mirror
3) Ride With the Wind
4) Metal Nation
5) Awakening Pandoras Box
6) Axe to Grind
7) Bird of Prey
8) Lost Without Warning
9) Part of the Machine
10) Chelsea 100
11) Beyond the Veil
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