Fireaxe - Victory Or Death

*=Staff's pick	Failures Of The Fathers* Chariot Food For The Gods The Covenant/My Name Is Joshua The Great Crusade Guardian Of The Realm* Cut Or Be Cut The Soul Doctors Black Knight*

Genre	Heavy Metal	Brian Voth	Vocals
Tracks	9	Brian Voth	Guitar
Runningtime	78 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	---	Brian Voth	Bass
Release	2003	Brian Voth	Drums
Country	USA	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	King Diamond

Fireaxe is an ambitious one man effort. Brian Voth that is the man behind it all does everything on his own, and he does it pretty good as well. Apart from the drums that are programmed he plays and sings it all. Victory or Death is a collection of Fireaxe songs that is featured on the three CD project Food for the Gods.

It sounds similar to King Diamond both in sound as with the vocals, not as powerful vocals but without the annoying high pitch screams though. The music and the song structure is at many times theatrical in the same kind of King Diamond way. And it oozes of the eighties metal with a galloping sound and driving guitars. The influences seems to be coming from many directions and apart from King Diamond you can hear traces of Iron Maiden and NWOBHM. Likewise you hear progressive moments and a thought towards Rush and early Fates Warning doesn't seem to be too farfetched.

Considering it is all done by one man it is really good, but I have problems with the drum machine, it simply sounds too much machine and takes away some of the enjoyment. And it would have been really good drumming if it had been real drums instead of a machine. And even though Brian's voice isn't bad, I feel it is in that area together with the drums there are most improvement to be done.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
6	5	7

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Thomas