During 1984, Metal was growing and taking the entire world by assault. But no one could think that NWOBHM would lose its strength (and few survivors endured to such event), that Glam Metal and Thrash Metal would be the dominating Metal genres in 1986. But 1984 saw many great classics being released and great events as well (the release of IRON MAIDEN's "Powerslave" and the "World Slavery Tour", JUDAS PRIEST with "Defenders of the Faith", VAN HALEN with "1984", SCORPIONS with "Love at First Sting", WHITESNAKE with "Slide It In", DIO with "The Last in Line", SAXON with "Crusader", and many others). But things on underground were hot as well, and in the middle of the flood of many classics, "Swords and Axes", the second album of the Swedish pioneers of OVERDRIVE came to life. And here the fans have this reissued version in hands to check how good this album.

If compared with "Metal Attack" (their previous album), the band had a slight change on its musical work: it's heavier and abrasive, but the Hard 'n' Heavy melodies of the quintet are extremely polished, creating many arrangements and hooks that are hard to resist to. It's full of remarkable choruses and a heavy music full of a melodic energy that can be said as the Swedish Heavy Metal DNA. And even today, the album sounds great and actual. The band worked once more with Peter In de Betou in the studio, and he produced, made the sound engineering and mixing as well. And even with this organic sonority (a usual feature of those days), things are defined and shaped in a good form, so the fans will have no problems to understand what's being expressed.

The ones who listen to this album today will have a sample of what the band offered on those days, and the energy and hooks delivered on "Dream Away" (fine guitar riffs with charming melodies and a great chorus), "Black Revenge" (a catchy abrasive song with a clear aggressive sense, but with excellent vocals), "Burn in Hell" (a slow paced song with nasty ambiences, and very good melodies once more), "Swords and Axes" (a traditional Swedish Heavy Metal song, with the right balance between melody, weight and aggressiveness, with a great work of bass guitar and drums), and "Mission of Destruction" (some Hard Rock influences can be heard on this one due its melodic hooks that are accessible) are hard to resist to. And as bonus tracks of this version of the album, instrumental versions of rehearsals for "Crank It Up", "Gravy Train", "Can't Do Without You", "Captured", "Reincarnation", and "Heed the Prophecy".

After this release, the band went on hiatus (that lasted until 2003). But "Swords and Axes" is a fine testimony of what OVERDRIVE delivered back then. What are you waiting for to get your copy?