Battleaxe

MICK PERCY
DAVE KING
PAUL AT KINSON
BRIAN SMITH
 
The Battleaxe lineup has remained unchanged for almost 25 years. Originally a four piece band, a fifth member was added in the late 1980s, through to the mid 1990s.
 
When the band reformed in 2007, they agreed that the best way forward was to stay as a four piece, mainly because it had been so difficult to get a second guitarist that had that powerful stripped back Marshall sound.
 
Each member of Battleaxe has one important thing in common, the ability to deliver with power and attitude...that is what makes Battleaxe an exciting live rock band to this day.
 
In 1981, Battleaxe recorded demos at Guardian Studios, and were later signed to Roadrunner/Music for Nations and the Guardian demos released as ‘Burn this Town’. This was to become a cult album due to the unusual and unsanctioned album cover. (but that's another story).
 
In December 1983, Battleaxe recorded their second album "Power from the Universe", this was to prove a turning point for the band when the relationship between guitarist Steve Hardy and the band broke down. Following the release of the second album, Battleaxe were able to get a support slot on a Saxon UK tour, which saw the band play a show with Twisted Sister and Anvil.
 
This is where the story almost ends, as Battleaxe was unable to sustain any success in the UK and band almost fell apart. An attempt was made to record a third album, but when funding ran out the project was mothballed.
 
With only Brian and Dave left from the original line up, things were stabilised between 1985 and 1987 when guitarist Mick Percy and drummer Paul(AT)Kinson joined the band.
 
Through the late 80s into the early 1990s, Battleaxe played a few local shows whilst writing and recorded many new songs, but the climate was changing for rock music, making things tough for Battleaxe in the UK.
 
Mick continued playing the local rock scene and Paul joined folk metal band Skyclad, whilst Dave and Brian went back to working on their own projects and music for the next 10 years or so.
 
Fast forward to 2007......
 
It was during the summer of 2007 that Dave King and Paul(AT)Kinson started discussing bringing Battleaxe back to life, whilst at the same time by chance, Paul and Brian were working on remixing some of the old recordings from the 1990s.
Dave knew there was interest in the band through the website and sales of the old albums, and Paul having seen the interest in Battleaxe first hand touring in Europe in the 1990s, knew the band needed to reform.
 
After months of persuasion, Dave and Paul finally convinced Brian (Smith) and Mick (Percy) to give it one last go; so the band got together to shoot a budget video to an old track entitled 'Chopper Attack', from the Power From The Universe album in October of that year.
 
The response to the video was encouraging; fans from all over the world started contacting the band; it was almost like there was a kind of underground following for Battleaxe, which appeared to be formed on the back of the 'Burn This Town' album.
 
Everyone agreed that a follow up video to a new track, would be a good idea, so plans to record a song entitled 'The Self Destruction Machine' were made during December of 2007.
 
Recording the track and shooting the video proved to be impossible though; with financial issues hampering progress.....
The track features on the new Battleaxe album Heavy Metal Sanctuary (Rel-2014 SPV) with new lyrics, renamed The Devil Calls.
 
.........a period of uncertainty followed for the band, a stroke of luck was needed badly for a bunch of guys who had put more than 20 years into trying to get back to performing this band.
 
In 2010, Battleaxe was invited to play Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany. This proved to be a great show, prompting the band to get back to finally recording that illusive third album.
 
2011 - Recording the Album...
 
The recording of 'Heavy Metal Sanctuary' was a difficult journey for the band. With no financial backing, recording started in late 2010, with most of the production carried out by Mick Percy and Paul Atkinson in their respective home studios. The lack of any recording contract or finance to pay for a commercial studio meant this was the only way Battleaxe could possibly make an album.
 
A large proportion of the recording of HMS took place at Sound Inc Studios, and was achieved with a laptop using high quality pre-amps and mics, but the real work went on behind the scenes on the master projects, making sure that the performances sounded the best they possibly could.
 
When the projects were finally taken into Trinity Heights Studios, they were around 70% complete with all the bugs sorted out. All that was left was the drums, these were recorded quickly, leaving a few guitar overdubs and some main vocals and backing vocals to complete the recording process.
 
The final mix and mastering, was done by Fred Purcer (ex Tygers), but it wasn't a simple process. Getting the right sound was crucial to the success of the album. The band worked very closely with Fred to achieve the kind of sound they were looking for, and once he understood the sound and direction the band wanted to go for, he did a great job of mastering what is a very powerful album, on a very tight budget.....so thanks Fred, you've been a good friend of the band.