AXEMASTER BIOGRAPHY

Axemaster was formed in 1985 by lead guitarist Joe Sims. The project and music has stood the test of time and remains strong after over 30 years.

With the band's original lineup they recorded their first 4 releases: "Slave to the Blade" (demo EP cassette), "Blessing in the Skies" (full length album), "The Vision" (shaped pictured disc single), and "Crusades" (shaped picture disc single), the last 3 being released by Azra International Records. They were also featured on Azra Record's compilation shaped picture record "Metalgon" and in the comedy/horror movie "Killer Nerd".
Several lineup changes followed as the band recorded their next 2 releases: "Death Before Dishonor" (full length cassette, European-only release) and "5 Demons (Imperative is their Demise)" (self-released EP cassette). Joe Sims is the only original member to remain and play on every release. After this the band altered their musical direction and changed the name to The Awakening.

Four years later, Unisound Records {Greece} re-issued selected songs from 4 of the band’s releases (as well as 3 songs by The Awakening) on a CD titled "Axemaster & The Awakening, 1985-1995". In 2002 Unisound re-released "Death Before Dishonor" (as well as some unreleased material) on CD. The success of these discs proved that Axemaster's music remained in demand although the band had been inactive for several years.

The band's original lineup briefly re-united in 2007 and re-released "Blessing in the Skies" on disc through Burning Star Records {Greece}. The reunion was short-lived however, and the remaining members moved on to do a studio project under a different name.

In 2010, Sims permanently re-launched Axemaster and over the next couple years, started work on a new album with a lineup that included current members: bassist Jim Curtis, and vocalist Geoff McGraw. Then, in 2014, the band (along with new/current drummer Denny Archer) signed a deal with Pure Steel Records (Germany), and released the full length album "Overture to Madness" in the following year.

After taking a year to play shows in support of "Overture", as well as adding lead guitar extraordinaire Damin Bennett to the lineup (making it the first time the band has had a dual axe attack!), and writing new material, the current version of Axemaster hit the studio in 2016 to record a new album ("Crawling Chaos") which was released by Pure Steel in late 2017.

"Crawling Chaos" includes 10 tracks with major label sound and the signature Axemaster style (a mix of traditional metal, doom metal, and thrash metal), that shows the band's evolution while still paying respect to their metal roots. The album has gotten rave reviews worldwide (both in webzines and on radio), which helps to affirm the general belief that it has all the elements necessary to become the most successful and memorable Axemaster album to date.

Shortly in advance of the new album, Pure Steel re-released a collection of the band's material from the 80's and early 90's as a collectable vinyl 2 record set titled "Blessing in the Skies (and other cuts from the chamber)". The album includes all the material from "Blessing in the Skies" and "5 Demons", as well as several additional songs. All of the material was re-mastered which GREATLY improved the sound of all the tracks.

Axemaster's unique blend of styles has proven to be a combination that appeals to metal fans from 2 different generations. This, coupled with the large amount of worldwide exposure they have received over the years and the band's resolve to keep moving forward, gives cause to expect that Axemaster will continue to achieve greater success in the future!

BAND MEMBERS
Geoff McGraw - Vocals
Joe Sims - Lead Guitar
Damin Bennett - Lead Guitar
Denny Archer - Drums
Jim Curtis - Bass

CONTACT
676 Cleveland Road
Ravenna, Ohio 44266

http://www.axemasterofficial.com/
axemaster@axemasterofficial.com

https://www.facebook.com/axemasterofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Axemastergroup/
https://twitter.com/Axemastermetal
https://www.youtube.com/user/axemasterofficial?sub_confirmation=1
www.reverbnation.com/axemasterofficial

PURE STEEL RECORDS
http://www.puresteel-records.com/

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AXEMASTER DISCOGRAPHY

1) "Slave to the Blade" (Independent 5-song cassette)
2) "Blessing in the Skies" (Full length album and cassette released by Azra International Records)
3) "Crusades" (Shaped picture disc released by Azra International Records as a limited edition record to promote "Blessing in the Skies")
4) "The Vision" (Shaped picture-disc single released by Azra International Records)
5) "Death Before Dishonor" (Full length cassette of rehearsal recordings. European-only release by S.A. Bucher Management {France} & Skullthrasher Promotions {Belgium})
6) "5 Demons (Imperative is their Demise)" (Independent 5 song cassette)
7) "1985 - 1995" (A "best of" 14 song CD released by Unisound Records {Greece} which includes songs from the releases numbered here as 2, 3, 4, and 6. Also includes 3 songs by the band The Awakening)
8) "Death Before Dishonor (Reissue)" (Re-release on CD of the original recordings by Unisound Records {Greece}. Also includes previously unreleased material and songs from the releases numbered here as 1 and 4)
9) "Blessing in the Skies (re-release)" (The album in it’s entirety released on CD by Burning Star Records {Greece}. Also includes a video for the song "Slave to the Blade" and 3 bonus tracks)
10) "Overture to Madness" - (Full length CD released by Pure Steel Records {Germany})
11) "Blessing in the Skies (and other cuts from the chamber)" - (A collectable vinyl 2 record set that includes a collection of the band's material from the 80's and early 90's {all the tracks from "Blessing in the Skies" and "5 Demons", as well as several additional songs}. Released by Pure Steel Records {Germany})
12) "Crawling Chaos" - (Full length CD released by Pure Steel Records {Germany})

AXEMASTER on iTunes - "Overture to Madness" (available through Pure Steel Records) "Blessing in the Skies" & "5 Demons" (available through Smog Veil Records)  

                               .........MUSIC INCLUDED ON.........
- The comedy/horror movie "Killer Nerd" - Produced by Riot Pictures and stars the former MTV personality and past academy award nominee Toby Radloff
- The independent horror movie "Metal Maniac"
- The heavy metal documentary on CD-ROM titled "The Polishing of Metal" - Produced by The Rock Record Collectors Association and Emperor Multimedia (Canada)
- The DVD "Defenders of the Faith" - European-only release produced by Kastle Killers. Includes a video of the song "Slave to the Blade"

                                     .........COMPILATIONS...........
                                            (physical releases)
- "Metallic Commandments - Volume 1" (Promotional CD for "That's Metal" magazine {Germany})
- "Metalgon" (Shaped picture disc by Azra International Records)
- "A Distant Thunder" (Cassette release)
- "Speed N Thrash" (Cassette release {France})
- "Decapitated Vol. II" (Cassette release {Greece})
- "Bloodzit" (Cassette release {Canada})

*AXEMASTER has also been a part of several "online only" compilations (available for download only)

Above releases are from the USA unless otherwise stated