Rock and roll is dead. We hear this refrain all time and to be frank, it’s getting old. There’s a slew of rock and roll out there keeping the genre alive and well - and fresh. Standing proud with riffs and plenty of rock is Stone Axe, the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Tony Reed (Mos Generator, Big Scenic Nowhere) and vocalist Dru Brinkerhoff. Their new album, Stay of Execution, is a collection of unreleased recordings and tracks recorded between 2008 and 2011. Mixing together nostalgia and the freshness of musical exploration, Stay of Execution is a must-have for any discerning consumer of modern bluesy rock and roll.
As Stone Axe puts it, “the drive wasn’t to innovate but to celebrate.” This is clear when listening to the vibrant, retro sounds of Stay of Execution. These riffs have the scent of acts as diverse as Ted Nugent, Thin Lizzy, Cream, and early Santana. The blues mixes with rock and roll and psychedelia to create a musical soundscape that tantalizes the ears, sending you down a wormhole into Reed’s musical bag of tricks. His guitar work is especially emblematic of a by-gone era, one where guitar heroes were celebrated as gods more than human beings.
Opener “Fell on Deaf Ears'' is a classic exploration of speed and riff making, taking the listener through a musical exploration of the mid-70s rock explosion. “Now remember what your father told you/ Son you were born to see the end times,” the second line of the song, seems to be both a warning that the rock genre faces its extinction while simultaneously stating that it’s alive and roaring in defiance of the times. “Lady Switchblade” brings the best of Thin Lizzy to the 21st century but channeled through the voice of Gregg Allman and the riffs of Lynyrd Skynyrd. “Sweet Sweet Time” is an aching blues number perfect for a late night of whiskey-driven ruminations. “Metal Damage,” the fifth track on the album, is a vibrant celebration of early metal that brings to mind the riffs of Dio-era Black Sabbath. “For All Who Fly'' is the kind of acoustic driven number that reeks of smoke and late night jam sessions. “King of Everything'' has the kind of aggressive power chordage that recalls the sticky floors of bars filled with the sound of early AC/DC. Finally, “The Last Setting Sun” is a perfect album closer, an organ-driven ballad with the line “When the last leaves fell and it was time to move on/ I looked back and I could tell that this was the last red dawn,” seemingly questioning the future of music while simultaneously putting an exclamation mark that rock is indeed here to stay.
While some may view this album as a collection of odds and ends, it’s so much more than that. Reed and Brinkerhoff have presented a statement that rock and roll is very much alive and will continue to fight for its place in the sonic landscape of our consciousness. Proto-metal, southern rock, psychedelic rock, and even folk rock are explored with a tender appreciation for predecessors and a long view towards the future. We have here not just a collection of excellent songs, but a statement that is gravely needed in 2022.
Tune in, turn on, and keep this one spinning on your turntables. It’s worth the ride and the exploration.
-Osiris
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