American heavy metal supergroup AXE DRAGGER (featuring current and former members of Fu Manchu, Pantera, Dark Funeral and Pentagram) team up with Metal Injection to present the rip-roaring debut single off their upcoming self-titled album “Axe Dragger”, to be issued on March 6th via Ripple Music.
Watch Axe Dragger’s debut lyric video via Metal Injection
+ listen to the single on all streaming platforms
Forged across state lines and fueled by sheer riff worship,
AXE DRAGGER is the true supergroup heavy metal has been waiting for. Born from the long-distance communion of
Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch and ex-
Pentagram drummer Pete Campbell, the project achieved legendary status with the additions of original
Pantera vocalist Terry Glaze and
Dark Funeral bassist Fredrik Isaksson.
Soaked in the soaring 80s metal spirit of titans like Riot, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio and Armored Saint, and adorned with modern weight and production, their self-titled debut album is a timeless, earth-shaking beast, meticulously crafted crash by crash over a relentless year. AXE DRAGGER reloads the golden age of heavy metal in legendary fashion, staging a full-blown takeover of all headbangers’ stereos worldwide. Prepare for the next heavy metal classic!
With a lyric video designed by Emmy-nominated motion designer and art director DJ Summitt, debut single “Axe Dragger” is an absolute face melter that will ravish fans of Judas Priest, Riot, Iron Maiden and Dio. Guitarist Bob Balch comments: “This was the first song we wrote. When drummer Minnesota Pete Campbell reached out to me about collaborating on a metal record, those riffs came out of me moments later. The song pretty much wrote itself. I thought Terry Glaze would sound great on it, so we sent it over to him. When we both heard the vocals and lyrics, we knew we had something special. I mean—he sings the words “heavy metal” in the first verse! Haha. That song lit a fire under all of us and ended up spawning the entire record. Pete then mentioned bringing in Fredrik Isaksson on bass. Fredrik absolutely killed it on that track, and at that point, the lineup was solidified. Hope you dig it!”
Drummer Minnesota Pete Campbell adds: “This was the first track Bob sent me for the project. At first listen, I was like, “Okay… I see where this is going!” I laid down my drum tracks and sent it back. He told me Terry was interested in doing some vocals, and I was stoked. When we got Terry’s vocals back, I knew right away we were onto something—and ten songs later, we had a whole record. Fredrik’s bass playing is ungodly, and he’s the perfect man for the job. Bob is a freakin’ riff machine—such an honor to jam with. I’m super excited for people to hear this band. Proud of the music and the guys involved. Hail Metal!”
Their debut album “Axe Dragger” was mixed by Brian Scheuble (Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails) and mastered by Dave Collins (Metallica, Soundgarden), with vinyl and CD mastering by Carl Saff, and album artwork by Seldon Hunt.
TRACKLIST:
1. Axe Dragger
2. Give You The Rope
3. Fight Another Day
4. Iron Rider
5. Eat Me From The Inside
6. Shock ‘Em Dead
7. El Toro
8. The Damned Will Cry
9. Fire In The Madhouse
10. Death Is Calling My Name
AXE DRAGGER began as a long-distance collaboration between guitarist Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, Slower) and drummer Pete Campbell (ex-Pentagram). Bob would send over riffs, Pete would lay down drums, and before long, things started to take shape. The project leveled up when legendary vocalist Terry Glaze (ex-Pantera) and bassist Fredrik Isaksson (Dark Funeral) joined the fold. Over the course of a year, songs slowly but relentlessly came together—built riff by riff, crash by crash— until it became clear they had a full-blown band on their hands. The result is a debut album soaked in the spirit of early ’80s heavy metal with modern weight and grit.
About the genesis of the band, guitarist Bob Balch says: “I’d been in touch with drummer Pete Campbell for a while about trading riffs, drum beats, and ideas. I’ve also been teaching a student over FaceTime for a couple of years who wants to learn old Riot, Judas Priest, and DIO—and that really lit a fire under me to start writing an old-school heavy metal project. So Pete and I started sending riffs and beats back and forth, and once we had a few solid tunes, we brought in vocalist Terry Glaze and bassist Fredrik Isaksson. The first song Terry sent back was “Axe Dragger” and Pete and I completely lost our minds. From there, we were all fired up, and over the course of a year, we put together this record. It’s a pure reflection of early ’80s heavy metal—and I hope you dig it. For the guitar geeks out there, this record is loaded with harmonic minor modes à la Powerslave-era Iron Maiden!”
Axe Dragger is
Bob Balch – guitar (Fu Manchu, Slower)
