Axe - Nemesis (CD)

All Music Guide

An electrifying stew of hard rock, biker rock, southern rock, and keyboard rock (we're talking 83 after all), Nemesis may easily be Axe's defining statement: The band wants nothing more than airwave domination and to come into your town to help you party down. Ripped opener “Heat in the Street" bears a similar title to “Rock 'N' Roll Party in the Streets," Axe's biggestever hit from their previous offering Offering (the CD reissue erroneously christens the song “Heat in the Night" but all that matters is Nemesis made disc), yet despite the obvious leitmotiv, nothing can touch this redhot, hardluck fugitive tale which takes every right turn while crashing and burning in a league with the immortal Motorhead; Axe is always geared for the radio though, throwing in keys and vocoder for a walloping slab of two ton American rock. “Eagle Flies Alone" soars skyward as endearingly as fellow knucklehead Sammy Hagar's “Eagles Fly," only Axe kicks it out four years earlier. Axe also beats the Crue ...to bat with the lascivious "Girls Girls Girls (backing vocals by the Mountain Jack Sluggettes)." “Foolin' Your Mama Again" sneaks around a melodic outlaw chorus, and the hardworking Edgar Winter boogie “Keep Playing That Rock 'N' Roll" is still another great, innocuous burner. The boys prove to be utterly fearless and amiable, forcing keys on guitars while swerving through a blissful riot of cliched lyrics. “Masquerade" almost ends the LP on a slow ride (replete with a cellphone ring?) before the dropdead pounder “Midnight" fires things up again. Contrary to the intimidating cover art, Nemesis remains naughty but slick, heavy but friendly; nothing more than welldone, blue collar fun. Whitney Z. Gomes, All Music Guide Read more Less