Larry Gillstrom

KICK AXE! Grant’s Rock Warehaus tackles one of the best Canadian bands with whom you’re not familiar enough! All albums ranked!

This weekend on Grant’s Rock Warehaus, we tackled a band that needs and deserves more attention:  Canada’s Kick Axe!

“Nobody’s talking about Kick Axe!” said Grant.  We aim to change that with this show.  Please give it a watch!  What are your favourite Kick Axe songs?

This is a show I am very proud of.  Our passion for these albums and songs comes through.  This might be the best Kick Axe content you’ll find on Youtube today!  Show notes are below, if you want the Cole’s Notes version, but you’ll have to watch the video to get our album rankings.

Formed 1976, Regina Saskatchewan as “Hobbit”.

Original lineup:

  • Victor Langen, bass, vocals
  • Gary Langen, drums
  • Larry Gilstrom, guitar

Ray Harvey added on guitar.

Moved to Vancouver BC, Gary Langen leaves band replaced by Brian Gillstrom, Charles McNary hired as vocalist.

1981 – Playboy Street Rock – live track called “Reality is the Nightmare”.

1981 – Weekend Ride / One More Time (Harvey on vocals).

Produced by Bill Henderson and Brian Too Loud McLeod of Chilliwack.

Wrote “Heavy Metal Shuffle” which opened Vices later on.  Attempted to record an album but never released it.

McNary replaced by George Criston, who brought in power, range and soul as well as a unique sound.

1984 – Signed to CBS in Canada, approached Spencer Proffer to produce because they wanted the same sound as Metal Health by Quiet Riot.  Proffer liked the band personally and thought highly of their musicianship.  Album Vices released on Pasha in the US.

Recorded existing material (2 songs re-written with Proffer) in Hollywood at S.I.R.  30 Days in the Hole – a cover, like Cum On Feel the Noize, but not intended to be a hit, just a showcase for their talents.  Released on the soundtrack to Up the Creek.

Ran into Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler – supposedly approached Criston to replace Ian Gillan in Black Sabbath.  Proffer was working with both bands.

Vices is their best album.  Proffer intended it to be a concept album about vices.  Not a bad song.  Bangin’ backing vocals.  Music video for On the Road to Rock made major impact in Canada, with the comedic video attracting attention.  The Vices mascot was one of my first “rock buttons”.

Vices did not perform to expectations, but Kick Axe wrote three songs for the next Black Sabbath album:  “Wild in the Streets”, “Hunger”, and “Piece of the Rock”, later recorded by W.A.S.P. and King Kobra.  Kick Axe did not want to lose Criston to Sabbath.  “Piece of the Rock” is one of the rarest Kick Axe tracks, only released on a 2005 issue of Rock the World.

1985 – Second album – Pasha wants band more streamlined for radio.  Brought in Pasha staffer Randy Bishop to help on lyrics.  Co-wrote 5 songs and co-produced Welcome to the Club.  Some of the heaviness is blunted, in favour of better song structure and melodies.  Recorded at Metalworks in Toronto.  Cover art by Hugh Syme, which the band never understood the meaning of.

Band brought in cover of Joe Cocker’s version of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.  Rik Emmett, Lee Aaron, Andy Curran, Alfie Zappacosta and more on backing vocals.  Very cool music video made of the recording session.

Pretty solid album, though not as banging throughout as the original.  The cover tune is completely different, but really excellent.

The band and Proffer blame lack of sales on parent label Epic.  No support.  Toured with Autograph, Krokus, Night Ranger, Helix and Triumph.

1986 – Ray Harvey returns home to deal with family matters.  Joins Rock & Hyde as touring guitarist (Bob Rock & Paul Hyde).

The Transformers soundtrack released.  Hunger, and Nothing’s Gonna Stand In Our Way released as Spectre General.  All done by Proffer, without knowledge of the band.  Due to pseudonym used, no benefit to band happened.

Still signed to CBS in Canada.  Next album picked up by Roadrunner in US.

Rock the World (initially “Fuck the World”) recorded as four piece.  Self-produced primarily by Larry due to lack of funds provided by CBS.  Recorded at Right Trak in Vancouver.  Also forced to mix the album themselves.  The cover tune this time is The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

Band breaks up – sherrifs seize equipment due to unpaid debts.  Later immortalized in the song Rocking Daze on Kick Axe IV.

2002 – Kick Axe reunite with Gary Langen returning, this time on lead vocals.  George Criston remains active in country and more soulful music.  Has expressed no interest in returning to rock.  Has not participated with reissues.  Has worked as a guitar tech for Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Avril Lavigne, and k.d. lang.

2004 – Kick Axe IV self produced.  Best song Rockin Daze written by Brian Gillstrom.  Decent album but not memorable long-term except for Rockin Daze.  Gary Langen has a style of voice reminiscent of Phil Naro.

2008 – Gary Langen leaves band, replaced by Daniel Nargang.

2023 – Run to the Thunder, first new song in decades, to be followed by new album.

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW: Kick Axe – IV (2004)

Part Seven of a series on KICK AXE!

KICK AXE – IV (2004 Elfin Stone)

George Criston is one heck of a talented singer.  Always had a lot of power, and range.  However, his heart no longer appears to be with the rock, but with country and gospel.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but when Kick Axe needed to reunite and put out a new album, a new singer was required.  They didn’t have to look far!  Original drummer and brother of bassist Victor Langen, Gary, stepped up to the microphone to sing.  And what a voice!  The rest of the classic lineup was intact:  Victor Langen, Ray Harvey, and Larry & Brian Gillstrom.  On the road to rock!

Gary Langen strikes a tone similar to the late great Phil Naro of Talas, especially on the track “Rockin Daze”.  More than enough to kick all the axes in the room.  Gary also participates in the songwriting on several songs, and providing the slinky tune “Slip Inside My Dream” himself.  Not at all like the one-of-a-kind Criston, but still more than capable.

The best track is, by far, the aforementioned “Rockin Daze” surprisingly written by drummer Brian Gillstrom.  The cool descending riff, the gritty vocals, and especially the killer chorus, make this one the obvious standout.  “The show is over, your rockin’ daze are done!”  Not by far!  There’s a story in the lyrics, so pay attention, but especially listen to the impassioned vocal and stunning guitar solo work.

While “Rockin Daze” is a high water mark, there aren’t any particularly bad songs.  The rest of them are on the same level.  Solid, enjoyable, well recorded heavy rock with the expected impressive musicianship.  Long bomber “City Lights” is pretty epic.  From heavy rockers like “Right Now” to slow, bluesy ballads like “Consolation”, there is a good cross section of songs.  At an hour long, and with 14 songs in total, it’s a long ride and perhaps could have been trimmed down to 10 songs.  On the other hand there’s an argument for value, especially when it’s a band’s only album in so many years.  There are plenty of good songs here, and nothing to make you jump for the “skip” button.  It’s a modern rock album, not as “metal” as the golden days.  A slight progressive edge, with keyboards and acoustics in strategic locations.  Still plenty of guitars, drums, and wicked singing!  The lead solo work on this album is top drawer.  Don’t expect Vices II, though there’s still a common thread here that confirms it’s the same band.

Nothing lasts forever in rock and roll, and while this lineup of Kick Axe survived five years, in 2008 Gary Langen left and was replaced by Into Infinity singer Daniel Nargang.  The band continue to rock and roll, though IV remains their last album.

3.5/5 stars

Part One:  “Reality is the Nightmare”
Part Two:  “Weekend Ride”
Record Store Tales #773:  Rock Candy + Internet = Kick Axe!
Part Three:  Vices
Part Four:  The Transformers soundtrack (as Spectre General)
Part Five:  Welcome to the Club
Part Six:  Rock the World
Part Seven:  IV