By Eóin Boylan
Released through Smalltown America Records
Axis Of is a name that’s been popping up more and more in the past year or so. Although releasing very little, their home reputation is unrivalled, especially the live show, which is becoming something akin to legend. This is the same show that they brought around the UK last year, tearing up stages alongside mighty US Punk machine The Bronx. Their first full release, on Derry’s Smalltown America Records, finally harnesses the beast.
Seemingly impossible to classify, the tracks on Finding St. Kilda differ wildly in their style, yet stick rigidly to the core principles of both “loud” and “fucking heavy”. The constantly larger-than-life vocals compliment the music perfectly, aggressive one minute, almost cheeky the next yet with impressive levels of consistency.
Production wizard Rocky O’Reilly has done a great job of capturing the bombast of their live shows perfectly. As always, it’s seriously hard to believe a three piece can make this much noise, leaping from the speakers with their raucous, massive yet surprisingly accessible sound. It’s rare that a band this heavy can deliver so many hooks, but regardless of the style of the track (and there’s quite a range here) Axis Of never cease to entertain.
Their trademark sea shanty approach to song-writing makes for an infectious delivery that, live, audiences can’t help but chant back to the stage. ‘Mendelssohnstrasse’, ‘Stan Winston’s Rough Seas’ and single ‘Lifehammer’ showcase this perfectly; the vocal on ‘…Rough Seas’ in particular penetrates the brain with its triumphant, almost defiant yell. So much so that it’s highly possible that you’ll sing these lyrics loudly on the bus/train/streets without even realising it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
It’s rare to find a band that can take so many influences and meld them together into something so fresh and original. With this album finally on the horizon, I can predict 2013 will be a big year for Axis Of.
Is this Punk? Maybe. Is it Hardcore? I’m not sure, but through the twists an turns from skull-pounding riffs (‘Aung’) through jump-around Punk mentalness (‘The World’s Oldest Computer’, ‘Re-Written In Big Ink’) to straight up fist-pumping head bangers ('Mapping St. Kilda’), this is an album in no way lacking in energy.
