Kick Axe

Kick Axe
Also known asSpectre General
OriginRegina, Saskatchewan, Canada
GenresHeavy metal, glam metal, hard rock
Years active1976 (1976)–1988 (1988)
2003–present
LabelsPasha, Epic, Song Haus Music
MembersDaniel Nargang
Brian Gillstrom
Victor Langen
Larry Gillstrom
Raymond Harvey
Past membersGeorge Criston
Charles McNary
Gary Langen
Dave Zurowski
Wally Damrick
Websitewww.kickaxe.net

Kick Axe[1][2][3][4][5][6] is a Canadian heavy metal band from Regina, Saskatchewan. Influenced by rambunctious arena rock from the 1970s and early 1980s, the group is perhaps best known for their 1984 album Vices,[7] praised by publications such as AllMusic for its "down-and-dirty guitar riffs" and managing to crack the American market.[8] The band achieved moderate commercial success in the mid-1980s on the strength of the singles "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "On the Road to Rock", "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Rock the World". Following the release of their 1986 album Rock the World,[9] Kick Axe disbanded and remained on hiatus for many years. In 2004, they re-emerged with the album Kick Axe IV.[10]

The band's "classic" mid-1980s lineup consisted of George Criston (vocals), Larry Gillstrom (lead guitar), Raymond Harvey (lead guitar), Brian Gillstrom (drums), and Victor Langen (bass guitar). Vocalist Criston did not return for the band's 2004 reunion, being replaced by Gary Langen, who had actually been a founding member of the band in the late 1970s.

  1. ^ "Music Express, Vol. 8, No. 81, p. 44: The Vice Squad's Heavy Metal Shuffle by Keith Sharp". July 1984. Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  2. ^ "Indianapolis Star, p. 22: Canada's Kick Axe Prefers to Be 'Heady' Metal by Jill Warren". 6 July 1984.
  3. ^ "Indianapolis News, p. 14: Kick Axe Taking Heavy Swing by Zach Dunkin". 7 July 1984.
  4. ^ "Deseret News, p. W9: Band Enters via Great White North by Jerry Spangler". 27 July 1984.
  5. ^ "Kerrang!, No. 75, p. 20: The Vice is Right by Howard Johnson". 23 August 1984.
  6. ^ "Metal Hammer (UK), Vol. 2, No. 8, p. 100: Kick Axe". August 1987.
  7. ^ "Kerrang!, No. 71, p. 9: Vices album review by Howard Johnson". 28 June 1984.
  8. ^ "AllMusic: Vices album review by Steve Huey". AllMusic. January 2018.
  9. ^ "Kerrang!, No. 142, p. 19: Rock the World album review by Derek Oliver". 19 March 1987.
  10. ^ "Cision PRWeb: Kick Axe Returns With New Studio Album 'Kick Axe IV' On Song Haus Music On September 7, 2004 'Kick Axe IV' Is The First Album From The Canadian Hard Rockers Since 1986 by Bret Adams". 4 September 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2004.