Lillian Axe – From Womb to Tomb

I must say that even in today’s unpredictable landscape, Lillian Axe reinventing themselves into a full blown progressive metal band was not something I was planning on scratching off my 2022 bingo card. Sure, the unsung darlings of the melodic hard rock/metal world has always had a slight progressive edge to their writing and playing. Founding guitarist/songwriter Steve Blaze even addressed such in our interview with him. That said, never have these progressive tendencies been more featured than on Lillian Axe’s latest album, From Womb to Tomb.

In true grandiose prog metal fashion, From Womb to Tomb is an ambitious rock opera chronicling the life of a being from birth to death (hence the title). I use the word “ambitious” here not just to describe the music, but the intent of the album as well. In a day and age where the average Joe’s attention span has been reduced to the length of a TikTok, getting one to absorb a full album is a tall order, let alone a concept album. Yet while listening to From Womb to Tomb, one can’t help but recall the days of Quadrophenia (1973), The Wall (1979), and Operation: Mindcrime (1988), when albums were as revered of an artform as film.

The album opens aptly with the being’s birth (“Breathe”) and progresses from there. Many of these tracks boast the intense arrangements and delivery of Dream Theater and Fates Warning, minus the musical overindulgence that has plagued the latter half of both prog metal veterans’ careers. Cuts like “I Am Beyond”, “Never Ending Me (Dempsey’s Kick), and “The Golden Dragon” are dark, dramatic slabs of atmospheric metal that manage to pack a punch without sacrificing melody. The album is further emboldened by the layered and occasional choir vocals, as well as the dynamic guitarwork of Blaze, who doesn’t get enough credit as one of the finest players of his era.

As From Womb to Tomb builds up, the band explores other various styles to add depth. There’s the hauntingly piano-centric “Migrating North”, the therapeutic singer/songwriter-esque “No Problem”, and even a dose of Floyd infused psychedelia with “Fall of the Human Condition”. Through it all are the twists and turns of old school progressive rock, coupled with the virtuosity and aggression of metal striding the line between classic and modern. The closing one-two punch of “From the Mountaintops” and “Ascension” (AKA death) has the listener questioning their entire existence; immersing us in a prog-metal rapture of biblical proportions.

In the scope of Lillian Axe’s catalog, From Womb to Tomb is the band’s strongest release in quite some time; perhaps even creatively on par with their late 80s and early 90s output, albeit radically different. For those who can see past the big haired, MTV sanctioned haze of those glory days, do yourself a favor and give this album a listen. You might just walk out of the experience with a new perspective on life…or you’ll have treated yourself to a truly “progressive” prog metal album, which is more than most self proclaimed prog metal bands can claim these days.

8 out of 10

Label: Global Rock Records

Genre: Progressive Metal

For fans of: Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Queensrÿche