Axe Dragger Self-Titled Review
Axe Dragger
Self-Titled
Ripple Music
2026
The 12-year-old kid in me absolutely lost his mind a few weeks back when I learned that Terry Glaze (formerly of Pantera and Lord Tracy) had joined a new band called Axe Dragger. And this isn’t just some random side project either - the lineup also features players tied to Pentagram, Fu Manchu, and Dark Funeral. That’s a hell of a pedigree right out of the gate.
But I’ll be honest about something: I’ve always been more of a “Glamtera” guy than a later-era Pantera devotee. Those early records stick in your brain forever. And once you throw Lord Tracy into the conversation, I’m basically sold on anything Glaze touches. The guy has always had that thing - the kind of frontman presence you just can’t teach.
Dig into Axe Dragger and the origin story is modern: riffs and drum tracks getting fired back and forth across the internet until something real started to take shape. On paper, you might assume this is going to be straight-up Stoner Rock because of the Fu Manchu connection. But that’s only part of the picture. What this band delivers is a greasy hybrid of Stoner Rock muscle and classic Heavy Metal steel. At times it feels like the ghosts of Trouble, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest are hanging around the rehearsal room. And trust me, I’m not complaining.
The riffs are the first thing that grab you. Massive, fuzz-soaked slabs of guitar that feel like they’re rolling downhill straight at you. Tracks like “Axe Dragger” and “The Damned” hit like a freight train. A lot of that Stoner feel probably comes down to Bob’s tone, he may very well be dipping into some of the same gear he uses in Fu Manchu, but whatever the recipe is, it absolutely crushes. And when it’s time for leads, Bob lets them rip. Molten, screaming, and unapologetically loud.
Still, none of it would land half as hard without the rhythm section locking everything down. Drummer Pete and bassist Fredrik build a thick, unshakeable groove underneath the chaos. It’s the kind of pocket that feels straight out of a ’70s Hard Rock record - loose enough to breathe but heavy enough to knock dents in the floor.
And then there’s Terry Glaze.
Honestly, this might be some of the most compelling vocal work he’s done in years. Sure, time has roughed up the edges a bit - but that only adds grit to the delivery. The voice has some miles on it now, and that weathered bite works in the band’s favor. Glaze doesn’t hold anything back here. He leans into these songs and belts them like a guy who still has something to prove. His performances on “Axe Dragger” and “Death Is Calling My Name” are flat-out killer.
While the album carries that thick Stoner aesthetic, it’s far from a one-trick pony. There are plenty of faster, fist-pumping moments that keep the whole thing from getting bogged down in fuzz. Tracks like “Fight Another Day,” “Shock’em Dead,” and “El Toro” kick the tempo up and dive headfirst into pure mid-’80s Heavy Metal territory. There were moments where I swear it felt like I had just dusted off a lost album from Savatage.
Considering this band reads like a part-time project on paper, the result is surprisingly lethal. If people catch onto this record the way they should, I’d love to see this band turn into something more than just a one-off experiment.
As it stands right now, this thing is sitting comfortably in my Top Ten albums of the year, and I wouldn’t bet against it staying there.