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Artist: Kick Axe

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Kick Axe Homepage

CD Title: Vices

 

Category: Melodic Metal

Year: 1984

Label: Sony/Rewind

Catalog Number: REWIND 55011-2

Personnel

George Criston lead vocals
Victor Langen bass, backing vocals
Raymond Arthur Harvey lead and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Vice Brian Gillstrom drums, backing vocals
Larry Gillstrom lead and acoustic guitars, backing vocals

Finally released on CD after 16 years.

Tracks

1.	Heavy Metal Shuffle	3:15
2.	Vices	4:22
3.	Stay on Top	4:06
4.	Dreamin' About You	4:32
5.	Maneater	3:21
6.	On the Road to Rock	4:22
7.	Cause for Alarm	4:38
8.	Alive and Kickin'	3:50
9.	All the Right Moves	4:36
10.	Just Passin' Through	4:48
Total Running Time:		41:50

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular Kick Axe CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from Kick Axe are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

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Heavy Harmonies Review
From: Dan	Date: March 17, 2003 at 0:10
People have been screaming for this album to be released on CD for years. Now that it finally has, I guess I'm wondering 'Why?' It's fairly average 'party metal' representative of its period. What strikes me is that it's... well... boring. Nothing leaps out at me as being exceptional, from the songwriting, to the musical performances, to the production. I think that part of the problem for me is that having heard the later Kick Axe efforts, I'm measuring this album by that yardstick, and this one doesn't measure up. It's a piece of music history, and as such, deserves to see the light of day on CD. If you're a completist or enjoy trite party metal from the early 1980s, this disc is for you. For me it gets a hearty 'yawn'. It's not a bad disc by any stretch of the imagination, but it just doesn't grab me. I've heard the same songs performed over and over by a zillion bar bands in the mid 1980s. I suppose if I'd heard it when it first came out, and taken in the context of one of the early 'hair metal' efforts, I would be shouting its praises to the hills. I'm afraid I'm just left shrugging... Rating: 68/100

Existing comments about this CD

From: Tracy Castle	Date: February 3, 2001 at 19:46
To me one of the best lp's of the 80's. One good rush after another. Isn't that what Rock & Roll is all about. Vices!

From: lumberjack	Date: February 8, 2001 at 11:45
please , please let the music come back !!!

From: REPOMAN	Date: April 5, 2001 at 21:56
WAITED 16 YEARS FOR THIS ONE ON CD...IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT...ONE GREAT BAND...WISH THEY WOULD GET BACK TOGETHER

From: toño chile	Date: October 9, 2001 at 22:54
great period of my life,in the 84 i had 11 years old and listened for first time 'heavy metal suffle',the sound was very 22pounding metal'exciter's song.great hard rock but the best album is 'welcome to the club'

From: James W.	Date: January 8, 2002 at 20:05
Kick Axe definitely Kicks Ass!!!

From: Friday 13th	Date: May 23, 2002 at 5:17
Kick ass debut from canada's cult metal act, this album roxx with catchy riffs and melodies, a must for any die hard metalhead

From: Nift	Date: September 6, 2002 at 22:46
oops looks like I'm the monority...thought this was terribly average..prefered a better production..no matter we all have our own opinions

From: mrlyrics	Date: September 28, 2002 at 21:59
A friend of mine let me listen to this tape, then said I could have it. I've joined 'The Club', gave in to the 'Vices', and they keep on 'Rockin' The World!' Can We force them back together?

From: bonemachine	Date: January 18, 2003 at 16:03
I used to roadie for Kick Axe and I got all the chics cuz they were always zonked on ludes and crap. I used to snort coke off of their groupies hooters and the guys had to clean up with a squeegie sometimes

From: MUTHA TRUCKA

Date: January 20, 2003 at 3:58

USED TO SNORT COKE? SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS A FEW MORE TIMES, BUDDY WHY DONT YA? ANYWAY IVE ONLY HEARD ONE KICK AXE SONG IN MY LIFE AND IT IS ROAD TO ROCK, CAUSE I HAPPEN TO HAVE THE VIDEO ON TAPE. SOME OF 18TH CENTURY COMPOSERS ARE ARGUING OVER A PIECE THEY ARE WORKING ON, AND THIS GIANT ROBOT (VERY 80S) TELLS THEM IT SUCKS. THEN THE ROBOT HEARS THE JANITOR LISTNEG TO K. A. ON WALKMAN. THE ROBOT LOVES IT AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, K. A. IS TAKIN OVER A HI SCHOOL CLASS, EVERYONE ROCKING. COOL VID

From: syl from france	Date: February 5, 2003 at 16:11
THIS IS THE BEST HARD ROCK BAND FROM THE 80'S.GREAT VOICES, GREATS SONGS, GREAT GUITAR...ALL IS PERFECT AND NOW THEY COME BACK WITH A NEW ALBUM FOR 2003...HURRAH!!!

From: jason (FA - Q)	Date: March 22, 2003 at 20:45
I have the song 'Alive & Kickin' which is off this album, but I also have Kick Axe doing a cover of '30 Days In The Hole'(Humble Pie). What album would that be off of? It isn't on any of the three albums listed here on H.H. (side note): I think that Mr. Big's version of 'Thirty Days In The Hole' is much better.

From: sylvain	Date: April 12, 2003 at 15:17
'30 days in the hole' was for the soundtrack of 'Up the creek', a bad movie in 1984; this tittle was also in bonus track on 'Vices' music cassette, and also on a compilation 'Muchmusic' from a canadian tv network from toronto.

From: sylvain	Date: April 12, 2003 at 16:15
for all Kick Axe fans (not you Dan)go to see on ebay usa the seller 'height47' who sells 3 cd live of Kick Axe and he's very serious. On these live there is 3 tracks unreleased and one song with the first singer.

From: StylinAxe

Date: October 22, 2003 at 1:16

as for bonemachine comments I think he's full of it I know Dean the light tech had his fair share of the fun ... Never once seen Brain or any of them so strung out like you suggest Kick Axe rules take it from another old regina rocker You might be surprised roumor has it a new album is in the works, Vices was one of the best 80's lps out specialy for a canadian act Rock On Road Warriors , It's Thin Ice ya travel on

From: Rivet Head	Date: November 8, 2003 at 8:56
I first heard Kick Axe on the local late night metal radio show used the opening of Heavy Metal Shuffle as the theme for their show. When they finally played the entire song and said who the band was, I got the record. Still one of my favorite 80's records. Vices was heavier than most hair metal at the time. I still have the record. Gotta get the CD so I can listen to it more.

From: Dean H	Date: January 4, 2004 at 22:27
Kick Axe is what got me through high school.I had to buy a new tape cause i wore out the first one.Always a pleasure to see these guys 'Live' as well.'Vices' rocks.Come back Kick Axe,bring George back too please !!!!

From: George K

Date: January 27, 2004 at 4:07

Kick Axe you guy,s were the best . I had the privledge of seeing the band several times in the 80,s.Including Harvey,s last njght he played at the Cornet Hotel in Kitchener Ont, .And 4 or 5 times after. I also have lots of pictures of the band ...The tunes are just as awesome today as they were back then. Who,s the new guy? ha ha just kidding i have been doing my research. Iwould travel a few miles to see you guy,s with George Criston again , im sure the new cd will rock, Hope to see you in 2004

From: AOR freaky	Date: January 27, 2004 at 10:52
I have to agree with webmaster Dan : this is very overrated ! Average hardrock is the name of the game here ! There are many, many better bands out there !

From: Count_Rockula	Date: February 12, 2004 at 14:33
Not the greatest album, more of a i need to complete my 80s collection and its a good one to fill in the holes with

From: Azz-Hed	Date: September 20, 2004 at 22:29
I have to say Kick Axe got the shaft. They were much more tallented them most bands of the 80's. Now, can someone help me: I need the lyrics to 'Cause For Alarm.' I can't seam to find them anywhere. Ho bisogno del lirico per 'cause for alarm' sull'album 'Vices' Grazie/Thanks

From: Propane	Date: November 30, 2004 at 17:00
Musically talented bunch of musicians! Worth every cent.

From: Geoff	Date: January 18, 2005 at 5:48
These guys were pretty good. Some very cool hard rock songs and great vocals - lead and harmony. I know it's supposedly a classic but I see there are a few like-minded who can appreciate it's a goodhard rock disc, but there just aren't that many good songs to make it amazing. Decent hard rock CD.

From: rick kerch	Date: January 27, 2005 at 15:15
'HEAVY METAL SHUFFLE'.Is there anything else to say?.

From: speed demon	Date: April 8, 2006 at 13:50
A really good hard rock album! All of the Kick Axe albums are great rock n roll. Really decent guitars, vocals, etc. Do yourself a favor and get all of them. You won't be disapointed! In my opinion all of their albums are a must have for your collection!

From: themartin

Date: July 24, 2006 at 13:20

The first songs I've heard from this guys was 'heavy metal SHuffle' from an '84 metal compilation including Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Accept, Fastway, Judas Priest.... This kind of rock haven't aged very well, athough I find it very energetic and catchy, 'Vices' 'HMS', and 'On The Road To Rock' are great songs, great voice and choruses,some memorable riffs. If the band were from the US they would have been as huge as Quiet Riot at the time, and I think tehy¡re more consistent than Helix.

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: December 3, 2006 at 18:19
'Heavy metal shuffle' is an awesome song!.It¡s like hitting a ball at 350k/ph.Really really enjoyeable song.The rest of the album stands up for itself.

From: iridion666	Date: November 4, 2007 at 17:55
Uma banda que merecia futuro melhor do que teve Todos seus discos são maravilhosos começando por esse classico ! escute Dreaming about you e alive and kickin' e prove o hard made in Canadá muito be feito

From: shoemaker	Date: June 27, 2008 at 8:17
Brilliance and mediocre here under one flag. CAUSE FOR ALARM totally KICK ASS (AXE).

From: rockhardrock	Date: March 25, 2009 at 9:30
great melodic hard rock/heavy metal album by this canadian band. standout tracks on this album that you should listen: Heavy Metal Shuffle Vices Stay on Top On the Road to Rock (my fav. here)

From: CMGio	Date: April 10, 2010 at 18:27
Great hard rock record here. Another album that I just love. George Criston's voice is just killer. Stand outs: "Heavy Metal Shuffle," "Vices," "Stay On Top," "Dreamin' About You," "On the Road To Rock," "All the Right Moves." All killer cuts!

From: rick kerch vzla

Date: December 12, 2011 at 21:33

Kick Axe's debut was marked by a song named..."HEAVY METAL SHUFFLE"!!!...and that track put the band in a higher or at least respectable position in their homeland Canada...George Criston with a powerful voice and the work done by the rest of the guys,especially the Gillstrom brothers,was just awesome...for me the album passed the test of quality but i do prefer their follow up "Welcome To The Club" even though that another does not have a remarkable song like the one aforementioned at the beginning of these line notes..."Dreamin' About You" is a solid rocking ballad,"All The Right Moves" & "Just Passin' Through" are great too...enjoyable melodic metal...83/100

From: dalelammers@att.ne	Date: July 20, 2019 at 0:41
An absolute masterpiece. Totally unique. There was never an album like it before and never since.

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