The power axe’s Achilles heel

I love the feel of the power axe but the animation for its heavy attacks are so long! It’s great fun but on harder difficulties with (for example) raveners bursting out the ground left and right you just can’t afford to be locked in for so long - especially since its attacks aren’t exactly devastating and you need to spin that thing a LOT. You can be mid whirlwind and see a red attack pop up in plenty of time to react, but you’re locked in and helpless.

Am I missing something? How do you guys make it work?