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AXIOM

Progressive Metal • United States


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Axiom picture
Axiom biography
In November 2002, drummer Justin Herzer answered a musicians classified ad on a local music website posted by guitarist Scott Whisenhunt. As they played they began to form their own style of music; borrowing from their inspirations and heroes like BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, TOOL, PINK FLOYD and THE BEATLES. What they created was a form of progressive metal, with a passion and seriousness unheard of in today's musical climate. To label their project, they used a name that would describe the music, content, and ideals they wanted their work to represent: AXIOM,meaning "a self-evident truth; an established principal in an art or science."

After building a fan base in the Sacramento area, AXIOM recorded their first non-demo CD in the form of the "Alpha-Omega" EP. The 7-song EP was released in June 2006 to local music retailers, local radio, and online digital music stores. To continue their do-it-yourself work ethic, AXIOM planned a month-long tour of the west coast to promote the "Alpha-Omega" EP. With their new bassist, John Coffee, the tour would take the band as far north as Boise, as far south as Las Vegas, as far east as Reno and as far west as San Jose.

As we sink into 2008, the band looks to the future to take their music to the masses. AXIOM is a band that will always embrace what's to come and never fear change. AXIOM is a band that will never fail to explore their music, grow, and reinvent themselves without losing sight of where they came from. With their unwavering convictions and uncompromising ideals, AXIOM have proven themselves unstoppable in their attempt to leave a mark on this world; and with music as their weapon, maybe help to change things for the better. In this day-in-age of image selling, regurgitating trends and passing fads, AXIOM hold on to the belief that artistic integrity, creativity, and idealistic dreams are things that still matter.

AXIOM's music is available at all major online distributors including itunes and amazon.com

Highly recommended to all fans of progressive metal.

Source:http://www.axiomband.net



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Discography:
Alpha-Omega, studio album,EP (2006)
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AXIOM discography


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AXIOM top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 3 ratings
A Means To An End
2008

AXIOM Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

AXIOM Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

AXIOM Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

AXIOM Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.33 | 2 ratings
Alpha-Omega
2006

AXIOM Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 A Means To An End by AXIOM album cover Studio Album, 2008
4.00 | 3 ratings

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A Means To An End
Axiom Progressive Metal

Review by The T
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars This is a band with a bright future ahead of them.

AXIOM's first full-length album, "A Means to An End", can be described as a metal album first, a progressive metal album second. The band's clear focus was to give us a compelling, smooth- flowing, coherent collection of interrelated metal songs that attack the listener with very precise riffing, never losing the focus on the primary goal. The conceptual nature of the subject, the close relation between tracks (between which there are no pauses) and the excellent level of musicianship the band displays are the primary elements that help configure "A Means to An End" as a progressive-metal album.

As mentioned before, the main element in the music is metal. Precise, original riffs dominate every single song in the album. There's hardly any soloing for the mere sake of soloing. When Whisenhunt decides to take a moment on the spotlight for himself he does it because it's in the song's best interests to do so. We never get the idea that he is trying to show-off his skills; what he does is for the concept's sake. The same can be said of the work of the rhythmic unit, where the drums are probably the instrument that displays a greater degree of freedom throughout the record. But even Herzer, the skin- basher, controls his attack and doesn't try to steal the show for himself. It's all part of a conscious plan whose ultimate goal was to create a cohesive, intelligent conceptual prog-metal album. The band AXIOM comes before, the musicians that form the band are secondary in their scheme of things.

If we were to mention a few bands that AXIOM reminds us of in this record, METALLICA would probably be one of the first names to come to mind. In fact, at the beginning of the album, for a few seconds, we feel like if we were going back to the 80's, ready for our new dose of fantastic riffing. One of the songs even begins with a very similar drum/guitar pattern/fill to the one that opens the heavy part of "Blackened". On the more directly-progressive side of things, AXIOM clearly drank from the fountain of FATES WARNING. The album's structure clearly brings back memories of that band's legendary "A Pleasant Shade of Grey". The style of powerful singing that the vocalist employs is more akin to that of the aforementioned progressive-metal giant than to the much more sung, melody-based style that the other big prog-metal founder, DREAM THEATER, favors in their compositions. It's clear that other bands that the members of AXIOM have heard are metal legends like SAVATAGE and QUEENSRYCHE, but also more experimental bands like TOOL, more classic bands like PINK FLOYD and even bands in the post-metal genre with the grey, somewhat-nostalgic feel that permeates the album.

The musicianship is quite good in AXIOM, even though they still can get much better in some aspects. The drummer is clearly the most proficient instrumentalist in the record, with a perfect mix of restraint and acrobatics, using the hi-hat for interesting patters and the double-bass drums sparingly but powerfully enough to create a lasting impression. The bass does it job, we can't say it shines but we can't say that it disappoints either. The guitars, the main instruments in AXIOM, are somewhat of a mixed bag. Most riffs are very interesting and perfectly played. It's when the guitarist tries to solo that a few imperfections in his technique show a little bit, but they never take away from the quality of the sonic experience and the guitar playing never sounds sloppy or even mediocre. It just doesn't sound perfect. On the other hand, we have to praise the great amount of original ideas the 6-string instrument is able to display throughout the album.

The vocals are my biggest complain with AXIOM. Though not bad or distracting, they aren't that brilliant. Whisenhunt sounds a little like a less-powerful version of James Hetfield with a little bit of Ray Alder thrown in the mix. But he lacks the soaring heights that the latter reaches or the uniqueness that characterizes the voice of the former. Melody is not this singer's best skill, and there are times when it would have been of a huge benefit to this album to include more melodic sections and more easy-to-distinguish choruses. This is a department where AXIOM still has to improve.

All in all, a great debut for a very promising career. A few flaws in the vocals and the lack of great memorable melodies make me give this album a 3.5 over 5, which I will round up as the star of AXIOM clearly shines for an even brighter future.

"A means to an end" is just what this album is, the first step towards achieving a goal, which doesn't seem to be too far to reach for AXIOM.

 Alpha-Omega by AXIOM album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2006
2.33 | 2 ratings

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Alpha-Omega
Axiom Progressive Metal

Review by J-Man
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars really!!!

This is the first music from California metal band, Axiom. It's a 7-track EP, and a good debut. Now, this really isn't prog metal. It's a lot more like Metallica and Megadeth, and in my mind, that's not much of a problem. This is superb thrash metal. HERE IS and ALL FOR NOTHING are the highlight tracks right here, though nothing else is bad. While it's not prog metal, some of the music is average. The music really ranges from okay to great, but like I said, nothing's bad. The musicianship is showing, and I love the solos and the guitar breaks that seem to be in every song (nothing wrong with that). The only huge problem is the recording quality. Now, i realize that this is their beginning, so the quality shouldn't be great, but the guitar really drowns everything else. Now, this is a great EP to own for anyone, but for starters, their next album really is much better. 4/5 for regular metal, 3.5/5 for prog metal.

 A Means To An End by AXIOM album cover Studio Album, 2008
4.00 | 3 ratings

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A Means To An End
Axiom Progressive Metal

Review by ZeroDreamPlasMaximus

4 stars A BIG improvement.

Here on PA, I openly voiced my dismay over Axiom's ''Alpha-Omega'' EP a few months ago. Well, since then the band had been working on this, their debut full-length album ''A Means To An End''. Upon recieving a copy of this album, I decided that I would be as open to it as possible. They're still a thrash band with prog influences (or a prog band with thrash influences, I can't decide.) The production here is SO much better, and everything heard is very cohesive and falls into place. All the songs from ''Alpha-Omega'' are on here and sound much better, along with some new songs. The lyrics aren't as immature as I used to believe either. They deal with many personal and (from what I interpret) religious matters too (am I right, guys? 'Cause I don't really know.)

AMTAE opens in a rather subdued manner with the short instrumental Cell before becoming much heavier a minute in and giving way to Dead Dream, one of the many fast-rockers present here. All For Nothing follows in the same fashion, while the title track features a pretty cool guitar solo from Scott Whisenhunt. Onesided is the weakest track on the album, but features some good drumming from Justin Herzer. Here Is... is another aural assult before we come to the first of two mini-epics, Godgiven. This song contains one of my favorite choruses on AMTAE, and keeps the sitener on his/her toes for 8-and-a-half minutes. Nucleus is another instrumental, starting out light before becoming heavier. A Perfect World is the ballad of the album, and provides a nice break from the balls & chunk of the previous songs. This is another of my favorites. Struck Down and Models For God are yet another set of bone crushing guitars and drums. Winds Of Change is a nice short acoustic segue leading into AMTAE's longest and final song, Don't Blink. It'll keep you hooked for almost 10 minutes with changing stuctures and even a piano section. The best song on AMTAE is unarguably Don't Blink.

Axiom has made a promsing debut, and it makes me feel sorry for bashing AO EP. (Yes guys, there isn't too much balls this time. It's just right.)

Well done.

 Alpha-Omega by AXIOM album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2006
2.33 | 2 ratings

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Alpha-Omega
Axiom Progressive Metal

Review by ZeroDreamPlasMaximus

1 stars PROGRESSIVE METAL WITH BALLS!!!

Too much balls, if you ask me. The newest addition to the roster of independent prog metal bands is Axiom, from good 'ol Cali. Their debut EP ''Alpha-Omega'' seems to be anything but progressive. Rather, it's more like thrash metal that's enraged and full of anger. Their biggest influence? METALLICA! All of the songs scream Metallica, especially ''Dead Dream'' which in its opening moments sounds like a ''Master of Puppets'' ripoff. There is barely a soft spot or any melody to be found on the EP. It's too overpowering how aggressive the songs are for 45 minutes, I was begging for a change in tempo or atmosphere or something.

Another thing to note: the production. The guitar drowns out everything, the drums sound like they're in only one channel of my earphones while everything else occupies the right. The bass you can hear sometimes, but the vocals are mixed WAYYYY too low. Speaking of vocals, the rough vocals suit the music well but it's not my cup of tea, plus the lyrics seem like ''grunge'' lyrics, in that they seem like they were written by a pissed-off 15-year-old after an altercation with his parents.

All in all, Axiom's ''Alpha-Omega EP'' is NOT progressive metal. The evidence lies in the lack of melody, the immature lyrics, and overuse of constant high tempo. Plus, the production is a bit shoddy. Definite room for improvement.

The band is working on a new album right now, and I hope that they will take a step in the right direction and try some variety in their music and develop some maturity.

Thanks to TheProgtologist for the artist addition.

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