DRAXXIS was a US metal band from Pennsylvania formed in 1985 and its discography contained a demo in 1989 and the βBook of Lifeβ EP in 1993 β the band went inactive around 1997. In 2016 a vinyl record was released which contained the demo (and some basement recordings), and now we have for the first time on CD that demo (without the basement recordings) as well as the βBook of Lifeβ EP.
There arenβt many huge differences between the demo and the EP songs, in terms of style or sound, so we are talking about a coherent album. The band had an interesting style, somewhere between MORDRED and METAL CHURCH. If someone took βFool’s Gameβ (MORDREDβs debut) and added the melancholic classic metal touches that METAL CHURCH had in βBadlandsβ, βWatch the Children Prayβ and similar songs, we can safely say, that this blend would give the sound of DRAXXIS.
So, βBook of Lifeβ is a low and mid-tempo compilation album where some songs follow the groovy aspect of the bands mentioned above (not the funky nor the thrashy/speedy one) and the other tracks have this βdark, depressive, ballad-likeβ mood that METAL CHURCH used to have in some songs. I think the second style worked a bit better for them, so tracks such as βBook of Lifeβ, βDream Demonβ and βTides of Destinyβ are truly great and give off a nostalgic 90s metal sound that is completely extinct nowadays. On the other hand, the groovier fans will appreciate the songs βFirst Fullβ and βBreakwaterβ.
DRAXXIS was a quite special band that did not follow the speedy version of heavy metal, but gave priority to the creation of atmospheric metal songs with distinctive melodic guitar themes and Mike Howe β like vocals. Since this kind of music cannot be found easily these days, βBook of Lifeβ is a good choice, especially for those who miss the early days of 90s heavy metal.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
