Previously known as Holy Right (one of Christian music's first white metal bands) in the mid 80's, Final Axe emerged as a frontrunner in the highly competetive California metal scene. For a number of reasons, the band decided against signing with a Christian label, instead choosing to self-release the 1989 cassette-only album, Beyond Hell's Gates , which only cemented their cult status in the underground metal scene. Final Axe would go on to play with the best in Christian metal, becoming legendary for their Metal Midnight Festival performances. Unfortunately, this release would go out of print almost as soon as it was released, and the band broke up a while later, so fans were left wanting more. Beyond Hell's Gates features the powerhouse vocals of Keith Miles, and the molten metal guitar attack of Bill Menchen, to craft some of the most intense, blazing, and melodic metal your ears will ever hear. Like the music, the lyrics are challenging and in-your-face Christian. Bill Menchen and Keith Miles (aka Simon Tyler) would later team up to form the band TITANIC, and release two albums (Maiden Voyage & Silence Screams).
The band felt the original low budget release lacked some of the benefits of today's technology, so the Retroactive Records version of Beyond Hell's Gates has been completely reworked and remixed, holding true to everything that was awesome about 80's classic metal. For melodic metal bands with leather, spikes and enough attitude to make your mother cringe, look no further!
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