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Rocking the world of hard rock and heavy metal since 1988, Lillian Axe is a veteran rock band that knows what it takes to deliver the goods. They’ve recently returned with their latest CD, Sad Day On Planet Earth, trying to prove that they can still rock hard and make a great album worthy of your valuable listening time.

Sad Day On Planet Earth opens with the excellent instrumental, “Cocoon”, which sets the stage for the rest of the disc. The acoustic guitar mixed with some special sound effects paints a dark, ominous picture of what’s to come. “Cocoon” bleeds into “Megaslowfade”, a rocker that was made to lead off an album.

“Megaslowfade” takes the intro of “Cocoon” and turns it on its ear. This is a guitar heavy, head banging, hard rocking, fist pumping song that electrifies the senses. An enjoyable way to get things started, “Megaslowfade” is one of the best cuts on the disc. The changes from bridge to chorus to verse are well done and enjoyable, and show just how much talent this band still has. The power behind this song is breathtaking; a great punch in the gut that makes the listener notice the immediate impact of Sad Day On Planet Earth.

“Jesus Wept” picks up where the previous song left off, albeit it a slightly slower tempo. This is a catchy song that will have you singing along in no time. The demanding drumbeat, gripping guitar riffs, and crisp vocals pull this song together and make it one to remember.

The title track is the power ballad of the disc without much power. While the message in the lyrics is strong and worth paying attention to, the music doesn’t quite match up and this attempt at a ballad misses the mark. Derrick LeFevre’s voice isn’t up to the task of singing this slow one, and the acoustic guitar riffs are lack innovation and style; they’re just plain vanilla. “Within Your Reach” is the better ballad on the disc, but still doesn’t deliver that knockout punch expected in a strong, complete ballad. The song starts with potential, but falls apart by the chorus and is never able to recover from that point.

“Fire, Blood, the Earth and Sea” is the big, Maiden-esque epic to close out the disc, and it delivers. This is a good way to say goodbye and a great showing of Lillian Axe’s talent. The acoustic guitar intros the song followed by a singing chant from Derrick LeFevre to set up the hammer punch that will soon follow. Like most great epics, this song is complete with several chord changes, lyrical depth, and a deeper message within the lyrics. This song pulsates with power and if there is one song that you should own from this album, “Fire, Blood, the Earth and Sea” is the one.  This is an amazing, powerful song that is pleasing to the ear and sure to be enjoyed by any heavy metal fan.

While Derrick LeFevre may not be the original lead singer of the band, he has a great voice and is an excellent singer for Lillian Axe. While he struggles with the ballads, Derrick still has a strong voice and proves it on the heavier tracks from Sad Day On Planet Earth. His vocal styles combined with the amazing guitar work of Sam Poitevent and Steven Blaze make for a great combination and a lot of fun.

Sad Day On Planet Earth is rock with an edge. This is a solid album that delivers what rock fans want, hard hitting, catchy tunes that will move your feet and have you banging your head and throwing your metal hair all over the place. What more could a metal addict want?

Rating:  Out of 10

Track Listing:

1. Cocoon
2. Megaslowfade
3. Jesus Wept
4. Ignite
5. The Grand Scale of Finality
6. Sad Day On Planet Earth
7. Hibernate
8. Within Your Reach
9. Down Below The Ocean
10. Blood Raining Down On Her Wings
11. Cold Day In Hell
12. Nocturnal Symphony
13. Divine
14. Kill Me Again
15. Fire, Blood, the Earth, and Sea

Lillian Axe is

Eric Morris – Bass Guitar

Sam Poitevent – Guitar/Vocals

Derrick LeFevre – Lead Vocals

Steven Blaze – Guitar/Vocals

Ken Koudelka – Drums

Reviewed by Ryo Vie.