Metal HeadSaxon |
|
Now how ironic is it that the new album features a song called "Travellers in Time?" No kidding! Talk about a charmed life… and one that's spanned now over three decades, the mighty Saxon return with the appropriately titled "Metal Head!" This band is a musical version of a rock and roll slot machine that continuously spits metal with each annual pull of the lever! Biff Byford and company, which at this point now features I believe one other original in Paul Quinn, just keep rolling along-like the "Iron Wheel" spoke of on another of their albums, they won't be brought down but they will effectively roll with life's punches doing their thing and apologizing to no one… faithful to the core-or just ignorant all the same, call 'em what you want, make fun of the singer's name or whatever, but they've upheld the metal tradition with the best of them! "Metal Head" possesses more of that gritty sound they had on '95's "Dogs of War" with a very explosive yet low key style most notably on the relentless guitar work that feeds the machine. The title track, ominously presented with fitting use of keyboard orchestrations, is vintage Saxon-pure rock, solid chorus and one due immediately to be placed alongside the best of their anthemic archives. "Are we Travellers in Time" has a modern vibe to it, where Byford's vocals get a futuristic enhancement while the rhythm structure remains firmly intact. As a matter of fact, the sound and style boasts a slightly newer feel in certain places like on "What Goes Around" which plods along with a chunky guitar opening, along with "Piss Off Bomb" which finds them fighting mad of course-Saxon gone hard-core? Not quite-the verse lays that to rest immediately but the fact is they're not sitting on their hands making the same album over and again though be assured the long standing tradition of Saxon's denim and leather roots haven't dried up and blown away - "Conquistador," "Song of Evil," "All Guns Blazing…" this one's easily one of the best along with the opener and "Prisoner," all surprisingly heavier than expected and more in line with their early '80s style. The closer "Sea of Life" is of the rare epic variety that carries on for over eight minutes and kinda follows the direction of the old "Crusader" from way back when-and it would seem even if a little battle hardened and weary, he's still up to fighting the good fight today! Taking it all into consideration, "Metal Head" is not better than Saxon's last studio disc "Unleash the Beast" from '97, as that one was their best work in about ten years. But this follows closely behind it in many aspects and boasts a broader range of versatility that shows an old dog doesn't need to learn so many new tricks to keep things fresh and deliver maximum output. Released in Europe by SteamHammer Review by Vinnie Apicella |
|
"Killing Ground" Saxon |
|
The fact that they're still around
is a testament to the existence of Saxon, a Heavy Metal survivor like few others continues to forge ahead, their battle cry long since echoing in the distance, onward they trudge creating album after album with the same solidity and resiliency they began with over twenty years ago. So why should "Killing Ground" be any exception? Well of course it isn't, and yet
never far off from the typical NWOBHM Saxon tradition, yet they
always manage to outdo themselves, adding a few angular twists here, enhanced
effects there, and the Byford voice overlaying the rest, gruff around
the edges but vocally none the worse for wear in fact delivering one of
his most pronounced performances on In fact, Saxon, for all the miles they've logged and all of the recognized Metal classics they've created, still plays as a band with something to prove. Their last few albums, "Unleash The Beast," "Metal Head," and now this one, while maybe out of reach for some, prove beyond question that for all anyone might've doubted them and left them for dead following "Destiny," a commercial failure, they've remained as relevant to the proceedings of a Metal resurgence as any of their time. "Unleash The Beast" was a great record, in fact one of the few in the nineties still available domestically… "Metal Head" was a bit tricky and managed to fire off a few good rounds but overall not overly impressive… "Killing Ground" is classic Saxon wrought with chunky riffs, expectedly catchy hooks, and the figuratively look toward the sky and stand at the ready character that's personified their very existence. The Intro lead-in to the title track reminisces of the classic "Crusader," and while comparable, shows they've not settled to travel step for step down the path of their storied past. "Court Of The Crimson
King," is a scathing remake of the old King Crimson tune, Other highlights include the storming
"Dragons Lair," with a thunderous double-bass pounce
that's on you suddenly and unexpectedly; "Deeds Of Glory,"
with a frequent riff, Still inspired by their own tradition,
the Holy crusaders from another time stick well to their own skill set
and churn out those battle hardened Heavy Metal anthems like only they
can. Released by SPV: http://www.spv.de/ Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |
|
“Re://Landed” - SAXON
(Oliver/Dawson)
|
|
Generally when the original members of a group start to fighting amongst themselves it is the fans of said group’s music that generally suffer, SAXON, legends of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, is a wonderful anomaly to the general rule. As it stands there are two SAXON’s recording and touring the first, led by origional vocalist Biff Byford, is currently recording a follow up to the incredible, “METAL HEAD” while the second, operating under the name OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON, is also recording and releasing material from the vaults that would never have seen the light of day had this little tiff not occurred. Both bands are exceptional with top notch players and both hold true to the SAXON sound with Byford’s group going a bit more for the Heavier side of things. Live records are relatively easy to produce not to mention infinitely cheaper than all the studio time involved in recording a new record and so it isn’t surprising that OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON would want to put out a live record as they attempt to establish the new band. What comes as a bit of a surprise is just how good this recording truly is. “RE://LANDED” is a classic SAXON live performance completely eliminating any pining for Byford that one might feel by its end. Of course the songs are familiar and the playing brilliant but there is that special “something” that raises this above other live fair but I haven’t been able to put my thumb on it yet. Perhaps it is in the hearing of
a voice other than Byford’s and not having it fail the material as
one might expect. It could also be that, as the jacket exclaims, “it
is a warts ‘n’ all record” with stray tones and feedback
transporting the listeners mind to front row center for one of these shows.
Don’t know and I have begun not to care for no other reason than
it rocks and that is what SAXON was always about anyway so not only is
there no harm done the band Going straight back to the origional
source Graham Oliver tore apart his attic and shook a full discs worth
of previously unknown goodies loose, now to be known as “DIAMONDS
AND NUGGETS.” Of course this is a live and Of the nineteen tracks only three are live and come from the group’s early eighties performing height. “Stallions of the Highway,” “Midnight Rider” and “Frozen Rainbow” show the band was more than able to kick it out on a level far above the competition whereas the remaining sixteen tracks give great insight into the creative process behind some of SAXON’s most well known material. The biggest nugget/diamond has to be the version of “Frozen Rainbow,” a number destined to be a classic regardless of who would record it, with Rod Argent playing keyboards on it. SAXON fans will have much to rejoice beyond all the music as Angel Air products are always packaged with plenty of rare photos and extensive liner notes. SON OF A BITCH, as any hardcore
fan will tell you, was SAXON’s origional name until a bit of record
company pressure resulted in the moniker being changed. Most of the early
material that SON OF A BITCH did ended up on When the mid nineties saw two camps of origional SAXON/SON OF A BITCH members squaring up against each other Oliver, Dawson and origional drummer Pete Gill decided the time was right to revive the SON OF A BITCH name with a couple new guys while the SAXON thing worked itself out. The result was the album “VICTIM
YOU” originally released in 1996 and containing all new material
done exactly There are four bonus tracks including still another version of “747/Strangers in the Night” recorded live at the Isle of Man in ’96. Of the three albums just reviewed I find this one to be the best though the first and the last are basically the same band and closer in time than the middle disc. Hell, all three are quite good and necessary for true SAXON collectors but SON OF A BITCH has quite a life left to it in my CD player. “Re://Landed” - SAXON
(Oliver/Dawson)- Released by Phoenix Music Review By David Lee |
|
Heavy Metal Thunder SAXON |
|
Musicians: Track listing: I grew up together with a three-year younger brother, who loved Saxon, so eventually I couldn't resist their heavy, raw and simple guitar riffs that carved their marks in my brain for eternity. Saxon was quite a big name in the 80's heavy metal scene, but while other bands took the lead, Saxon always seemed to be doomed to sail in the backwaters of these bands. They deserved much more respect then they ever got. There were not many bands in the 80's NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene that has written as many heavy metal classics as Saxon. CD1 in this collection contains 13 re-recorded songs from their impressive back-catalogue. All of them are classics nowadays. CD2 contains a live recording from San Antonio, Texas USA from 2002 and a video track of "Killing Ground" recorded live at Wacken 2001. Saxon is still touring and recording albums. Now and then they manage to write a new song that has the potential to become a metal classic, but nowadays Saxon is a name in the margin, so the chance that some of these song actually will become a classic is unfortunately very little. I saw them live a couple of year ago on their "Metalhead" tour and they still can create some Heavy Metal Thunder. Record Label: Steamhammer Contact & Info: Reviewer: Greger Rönnqvist
|
