Saxon!

[Charger]

So now that I've fully immersed myself in Hell, Fire And Damnation what other albums should I most certainly be looking at?

A facebook buddy already recommended Crusader.

Any other must haves?

[Zzzptm]

First album - it's ok. Cover art indicates a young band still finding its way and that's the sound of the album. They're loud, but don't yet know where to focus.

Wheels of Steel - The beginning of the golden years for Saxon. Great tracks on this one, they decided to be metal and that's what works.

Strong Arm of the Law - two different track listings, I prefer the US one. Not just because I grew up with it but because Dallas 1PM is SUCH A GREAT OPENING TRACK. It's a Highway Star for conspiracy theories.

Denim and Leather - Got goosebumps as I typed the title because I started to sing the title track, a true anthem of metal fans being awesome. Opening track "Princess of the Night" is Highway Star for freight trains.

The Eagle Has Landed - first live album, it's pretty dang good. Not a must-have, but sure is nice to have.

Power & the Glory - My word, but that opening riff tears my face off every time! The original US version doesn't have Midas Touch, but instead a new version of Suzie Hold On and a slightly rearranged track order.  I think Denim and Leather is stronger than this one, but this is definitely a monster album. Fourth studio album in a proud line of winners.

Crusader - another one with a jumbled-up US track listing that put Sailing to America as the opening track and I prefer it that way, as it is one of my fave Saxon anthems. A sort of Highway Star for wooden ships and Pilgrims. I think some of the songs dropped off in metallic-ness, and I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous four.

What follows starting with Innocence is No Excuse is a stretch of commercial 80s "hey let's do like what Whitesnake just did" metal that got me to check out after 2 albums, which means I missed hearing their cover of Christoper Cross' "Ride Like the Wind". I'm playing that now, and, yeah, it's no longer NWOBHM but the Commercial Wave of Eighties Hair Metal. Stopped it halfway thruough because enough was enough. But this begins where I can't speak to their product, as I'd also checked out as a listener by then.

So now I'm going to go back and find where they got good again, knowing well that they can make a misstep. Last year's collection of covers sounded dreadful and it was hearing Biff Byford sounding great with Girlschool that gave me hope for this year's release - that they are touring with Uriah Heep was another good sign.

Playing a little from Solid Ball of Rock and while it's no Denim and Leather, I think it's something of a return to form, or at least a start of that journey back.

Their 2011 release, Call to Arms, is amazing. I picked that one out of curiosity and got blown away, so there is metal ore to mine in those Saxon veins.

[Zzzptm]

I find Saxon at their best when they're telling a tale of historical awe in their lyrics. Be it battle or industry or speculative history, those are the lyrics that get me and get me good. Equally good are their songs praising their fans, metal in general, and operating some sort of vehicle with speed and precision. When they're good, I get emotionally stirred and find myself in the middle of the action of the song. I'm playing "English Man of War" now from their Lionheart album and HELL YES this is one of those great Saxon tracks that I love, even if it's the first time for me to hear it.

Sampling stuff from albums I haven't spun before, I can definitely say that they got good again somewhere between 1990 and 2010. That's a 20-year span, I know, but I look forward to the journey and doing a review on their body of work. Not having big label pressures definitely helped and getting established and comfortable meant that they could do what they were comfortable with, and do it well.

[Ted Sallis]

My recommendations:

Wheels of Steel
Strong Arm of the Law
Denim and Leather
The Eagle Has Landed
Power & the Glory

There's also a compilation album, Diamonds & Nuggets which contains a few live tracks and many original takes of their classic songs, alternative versions of their songs, etc.  There is also an SOB (pre-Saxon Group) song and a Coast (another pre-Saxon Group) song included.  The recordings on the release go as far back as 1972.

Ted

[Zzzptm]

Just played through Carpe Diem from 2022. It is a great album, confirmed! Didn't have any wincing or cringing - in fact, quite the opposite. Easy to get into and bang one's head along with. Strong all the way through - my fave track was Age of Steam, but that could be because I am playing Victoria 3 right now.

[Zzzptm]

I have now also played through Thunderbolt and Battering Ram. I want to go back again to these, as I was doing other stuff while listening and couldn't focus entirely on the music enough to where I'd be able to rank them overall. That being said, they rocked hard and I at no point thought about switching them off, skipping songs, or wondering if I'd hit the bad patch of Saxon. I liked Battering Ram better than Thunderbolt, but I also liked Thunderbolt quite a bit.

Thunderbolt got a mixed bag because I wasn't totally thrilled with the Nosferatu song but I totally rocked out to their tribute to Lemmy and Motorhead, "They Played Rock and Roll." FANTASTIC banger of a track, that one.

The first Inspirations album was better than the second, but it's going to be down to personal tastes whether or not you want to hear Saxon's version of "Paperback Writer" or not. As for the live albums, I passed over those in order to focus on the studio material.

That leaves just Sacrifice in between what I listened to yesterday and Call to Arms, which I checked out earlier and absolutely loved. The journey continues...

[Thelemech]

Power and the Glory is one of the greatest nwobhm albums period

Their newer albums are pretty good too especially the last 5 or 6 releases

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I never really got into them, but I liked some of their earlier stuff like Wheels of Steel and 747 (Strangers in the Night). I bought a compilation of theirs in the late 80s but never felt the need to explore further.

Yes, I may well be missing out.

[Charger]

Thank you guys for the input! I think I have a pretty good idea where to go next! The early 80s albums! Starting with Power And The Glory and work my way onwards from there!

[Zzzptm]

Thank you guys for the input! I think I have a pretty good idea where to go next! The early 80s albums! Starting with Power And The Glory and work my way onwards from there!

Be sure that you work *backwards* from that one for the rest of the 80s catalog, except for Crusader, which is still good.

2011's Call to Arms is exceptional, definitely Saxon in top form.

[Charger]

Yes onwards to backwards....onwards in backwards....backwards onwards? Oh damnit Jim!

[Charger]

Well I just ordered Power And The Glory and Strong Arm Of The Law. Both were just 7.99€ so pretty cheap!

[Zzzptm]

Well I just ordered Power And The Glory and Strong Arm Of The Law. Both were just 7.99€ so pretty cheap!

Excellent places to start! Don't forget to get Denim and Leather, if you can find it at a good price.

[Charger]

I will continue my search for sure!

[Zzzptm]

Meanwhile, I'm playing the heck out of Hell, Fire and Damnation right now, mixing in stuff from Carpe Diem and Call to Arms, this is a fun adventure. I think I'll get back through more Saxon material today to see where things changed for them.