Steve Blaze - main song writer and guitarist in Lillian Axe and the guy, who gave us such brilliant albums as: 'Love + War', 'Poetic Justice' and 'Psychoschizophrenia' between 1989 and 1993 is giving it a shot once more. 'Fields of Dreams' from 1999 was only a compilation of unreleased songs from 1988 - 1992 and it went almost undetected by most metal fans. So 'Waters Rising' is the first album in nearly fifteen years from his hands.

Steve Blaze is one of the most underrated songwriters in metal, and especially the 'Psychoschizophrenia' album never received the attention it deserved. And this new Lillian Axe album has his big signature all over it, it might not be as obvious and easy accessible as 'Love + War' or 'Poetic Justice' but if you take the time and let it get under your skin you'll discover many of the same patterns and signatures that made their earlier album such unique albums.

If you like I love their earlier album then you don't need worry because this one will eventually please you almost as much as those great albums. The style remains almost the same even though things are a bit heavier and more aggressive in some songs, just take a listen to remake of "Become a Monster", which was also on 'Fields of Yesterday' maybe the hardest song Steve Blaze has ever written and if this song don't convince you then listen to the album's instrumental closer; "5", which at times is borderline thrash metal.

On the other side of the spectre you have the 3 brilliant ballads: "I have to Die, Goodbye", Until the End of the World" and "Fields of Yesterday", all of them shows a master at work, this is where Steve Blaze really excels and shows his true colours. Each of the three songs are very catchy and with a great melody line, and falls nicely in line with other great ballads from Lillian Axe.

It's clear who's at work here, and the new vocalist Derrick LeFevre does a good job, but to fill Rod Taylor's shoes is a too big a job for him. The production isn't as powerful and in-your-face as I could have wished; actually it's a bit thin.

This is by no means a new 'Psychoschizophrenia' - still the unreachable album from Steve Blaze in my book - but don't let that scare you away because this is a solid album, which I am sure will please many fans.