Heard Lillian Axe for the first time today, and....

[daveg]

It was great.

One of those bands that I completely ignored back in the day...no idea why.

Heard 'No Matter What' on Sirius HN.....Fantastic Tune. Looked it up, and it was from an album in 93, and at the end of the album. Is this their "hit"??

Gonna definitely check out more....or is this the best they got....

[Love_Industry]

The first four are essential for Sludgers. My favorite is the s/t debut produced by Ratt's Robbin Crosby but the overall fan favorite seems to be the 2nd album Love and War.

The song you heard is off their third album Poetic Justice and their 4th Psychoschizophrenia is great too. All four sound a bit different but keep the band's core style so check them all out and see which you like most.

They did a bunch of albums later with changing line-ups but nothing I could connect with, did I miss something? Fields of Yesterday from 1999 is the last with "original" singer Ron Taylor. They had other singers earlier but Taylor was on their first albums.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

"No Matter What" is awesome but in case you didn't know, it's a cover song. It's probably their most "fun" song. They are a lot darker and moodier than that.

I love their first 4 albums. Check 'em out. Just know that "No Matter What" does not define the band.

[daveg]

"No Matter What" is awesome but in case you didn't know, it's a cover song. It's probably their most "fun" song. They are a lot darker and moodier than that.

I love their first 4 albums. Check 'em out. Just know that "No Matter What" does not define the band.

Ha, that's exactly why I liked it...cause I had heard it before.... seem to recall Def Leppard also doing it on their cover album.
Regardless, I loved their sound and still gonna check out the catalog.

[TravisBicklesMohawk]

New Orleans has always been proud of them.

[ALMOSTsaved]

Saw them open for RATT in Biloxi, MS on the "Dancing Undercover" tour. I couldn't believe I actually enjoyed an opening act I never heard of. That didn't happen again until I saw Skid Row open for Bon Jovi a couple of years later at the beginning of the "New Jersey" tour.

[War_in_D]

The first four albums are great. I dig the Dream of a Lifetime video. The chick in it is hot!

[Brainy Lane]

“True Believer” was “hit” on Z Rock radio!
That’s when first heard them.
Poetic Justice is a great album with terrible cover art. Almost passed on buying it.

[daveg]

So just finished listening to the first album, and it is really really good.
Songs that stood out.
Visions in the Night
Misery Loves Company
The More that You get
Hard Luck.

There wasn't a song that I just hated and FF'wd.

Someone said they were Dark. Not sure I get that...well, except for the stupid logo and cover.

I would have been all over these guys back in the day. So them and Tuff are 2 bands that I actually regret not listening to. Oh well.

[Wild Obsession]

Yes, 1st 4 albums are great......... beyond that, and without vocalist Ron Taylor the other stuff I have heard was just "meh".....

I get the "dark" description, while they have plenty of hooks and melodies in their music, the lyrics and vibe is more "serious" than the usual generic hair band stuff (like Dokken compared to Danger Danger).

[thechefs2003]

"Love & War" is their best album but honestly the first 4 are all great. They kinda lost the plot when Ron Taylor left and went more progressive.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

Someone said they were Dark. Not sure I get that...well, except for the stupid logo and cover.

Keep listening. It happens gradually. By the time you get to Psycho.. they sound like a completely different band.

Those Who Prey, Stop the Hate, etc.

It’s like the difference between Cherry Pie and Dog Eat Dog. All awesome, but very different.

[TorienRoxxGang]

Lillian Axe rocked till cat dick in a blender Brian Jones joined. Stevie Blaze must be blind as Brian sucked out the ass and is a total douche bag.

[daveg]

Someone said they were Dark. Not sure I get that...well, except for the stupid logo and cover.

Keep listening. It happens gradually. By the time you get to Psycho.. they sound like a completely different band.

Those Who Prey, Stop the Hate, etc.

It’s like the difference between Cherry Pie and Dog Eat Dog. All awesome, but very different.

Definitely gonna keep listening. Played the 1st a few times today, and liked it better with each listen. Gonna listen to album 2 tomorrow and I'll check back. I did listen to All's Fair in Love and War...and That might be the best I've heard from them...and I can see it getting a bit darker....although the song after is called "She like's it on Top"

[dmbrocker]

Their best song is "Show a Little Love", IMO, but that first album is probably their best overall.

[BulletProofPoet]

Their best song is "Show a Little Love", IMO, but that first album is probably their best overall.

"Show a Little Love" and “Now You Know” are similar pop metal classics! As others have said, the first 4 with Ron on vocals are all great!! Still listen to those albums all the time!

And yes, Pyscho gets heavier in places but still very melodic and great!

[daveg]

Just finished the 2nd.

My initial thoughts. The best songs are better than anything on the debut, but overall not as strong.
All's Fair (Easily the best song I've heard from them, and better than a lot of 80's stuff in general)
Show A little Love
My Number.

Also really liked
World Stopped Turning
Dianna

I can see how they are becoming less "fun", but still a very very solid album. I'm sure I'll like it even more when I revisit it.

[BulletProofPoet]

Just finished the 2nd.

My initial thoughts. The best songs are better than anything on the debut, but overall not as strong.
All's Fair (Easily the best song I've heard from them, and better than a lot of 80's stuff in general)
Show A little Love
My Number.

Also really liked
World Stopped Turning
Dianna

I can see how they are becoming less "fun", but still a very very solid album. I'm sure I'll like it even more when I revisit it.

Looking forward to reviews of 3rd and 4th albums! Poetic Justice has some great stuff on it like “See You Someday” and “Dying To Live”

[daveg]

Just finished the 2nd.

My initial thoughts. The best songs are better than anything on the debut, but overall not as strong.
All's Fair (Easily the best song I've heard from them, and better than a lot of 80's stuff in general)
Show A little Love
My Number.

Also really liked
World Stopped Turning
Dianna

I can see how they are becoming less "fun", but still a very very solid album. I'm sure I'll like it even more when I revisit it.

Looking forward to reviews of 3rd and 4th albums! Poetic Justice has some great stuff on it like “See You Someday” and “Dying To Live”

I've always wanted to do one of these for a band that I've never heard, but I listened to just about everyone in the 80's/90's and figured if a band had a 3 or 4 quality album run, I would have heard them at one point. But I can honestly say, so far I don't recognize one note from these guys...I've had the first 2 on repeat today, and they get way better with each listen. For me they are a perfect mix of rock and that 80's pop metal sound.

Might be a few days before I move on cause I'm really enjoying first 2 right now

[daveg]

Finally got around to Poetic Justice. Still don't get the "dark", but this album absolutely crushes. No idea who the guitar player is, but they kill it all over this album.

Sounds like a band trying to get away from the hair scene, and this is one of the better efforts....from anyone. Just a super solid rock album.

Innocence / True believer are great 1/2 punch to start off.

See you someday
No matter what
Body Double
Mercy
All great tunes

My favorite tune might be Dyin 2 live.

Really, really strong album

[BulletProofPoet]

Finally got around to Poetic Justice. Still don't get the "dark", but this album absolutely crushes. No idea who the guitar player is, but they kill it all over this album.

Sounds like a band trying to get away from the hair scene, and this is one of the better efforts....from anyone. Just a super solid rock album.

Innocence / True believer are great 1/2 punch to start off.

See you someday
No matter what
Body Double
Mercy
All great tunes

My favorite tune might be Dyin 2 live.

Really, really strong album

Yes, another great album that isn’t “dark” at all. Psycho gets a little heavier but is still a great album!

[roxxxtar]

Psycho is an awesome album. To me, it’s their best

[Nobodyspecial]

Love their Christmas "Here is Christmas". It's much better than the Ann & Nancy Wilson version.

https://youtu.be/M-8NJ93eNHk?si=1Q9K9FmOrlrprbwM

[DonJuanDeMarco]

Finally got around to Poetic Justice. Still don't get the "dark", but this album absolutely crushes.

I think I was the one who described them as "dark". The next record Pyscho... is the one. If "dark" is not the right word, then it's "moody" or "deep". Not as heavy as Savatage but I'd put this next to Edge or Thorns or Handful of Rain.

I don't know though... even earlier songs like World Stopped Turning, See You Someday, Promised Land, these are all pretty dark to me. Lots of death overtone and the music is really slow and moody, not your typical 80's rock power ballad stuff.

Poetic Justice was the first album I heard from the band after hearing True Believer. They became my new favorite band!

Another band you might like is Heaven's Edge.

[daveg]

Finally got around to Poetic Justice. Still don't get the "dark", but this album absolutely crushes.

I think I was the one who described them as "dark". The next record Pyscho... is the one. If "dark" is not the right word, then it's "moody" or "deep". Not as heavy as Savatage but I'd put this next to Edge or Thorns or Handful of Rain.

I don't know though... even earlier songs like World Stopped Turning, See You Someday, Promised Land, these are all pretty dark to me. Lots of death overtone and the music is really slow and moody, not your typical 80's rock power ballad stuff.

Poetic Justice was the first album I heard from the band after hearing True Believer. They became my new favorite band!

Another band you might like is Heaven's Edge.

I absolutely love those 2 Savatage albums, so you've set the bar pretty high

I do love me some Heaven's Edge. I can probably go as deep as anyone into 80's metal...and have no Idea how/why I missed out on these guys. I've got the first 3 on repeat all day. Gonna give a few days before I check out Psycyho

Tuff is probably the only band I have "discovered" recently that I really missed out on.