CoC : Blood Axe - In Battle : Review

Blood Axe - _In Battle_
(Independent, 2000)
by: Adrian Bromley (2 out of 10)

This is one of those records where after just a few minutes of spinning it, I wonder if I should just take it off, throw it on my CD shelf and just forget about it. I got this feeling right away with Blood Axe. I didn't know what to do. The sound quality of this supposed "Viking Metal" from Canada was just abominable. The voices were so low in the mix (almost inaudible at times) that I had to turn it up louder to just hear snippets of gargling metal groans. And the music? There is nothing at all creative about what Battle Axe do. Their music is just mediocre at best, no doubt its effect deflated by the miserable production and horrendous vocals. Only good point: the artwork. I think Battle Axe better brush up on their production skills before they try to forge forward new ground with their Viking Metal. I'd rather jump into a fjord than spin this disc again -- serious!

Contact: Blood Axe, Suite 15 1204-A Roland Street, Thunder Bay,

(article published 10/1/2001)