Lillian Axe were never hugely successful, but they had a fair amount of fans and a couple songs on Headbanger's Ball in the late '80s and early '90s. Their last studio album was 1993's Psychoschizophrenia. They disbanded shortly after that, and reunited in 1999 with a compilation disc and live album. Original vocalist Ron Taylor left Lillian Axe a couple years ago and was replaced by Derrick LeFevre.
The band's comeback album is Waters Rising, and Lillian Axe picks up right where they left off. The songs are melodic and full of big hooks and singalong choruses. Steve Blaze has always been the force behind the band, and his guitar playing is excellent. The CD wraps up with an instrumental which really showcases Blaze's ability.
New vocalist LeFevre has a good voice, and although not a Taylor clone, sounds enough like him that it's not a jarring difference to longtime fans of the band. Waters Rising is a very well-rounded album with some songs that are hard and heavy, others that are melodic rock, and a couple ballads, with the flawless guitar of Steve Blaze the thread that weaves everything together.
