Three CDs of live Saxon, personally chosen by frontman and metal legend Biff Byford. This could be awful I hear you say.Well, with the number of live albums and compilations that the Yorkshire outfit has released over the years, it certainly could have been. Fortunately, this release, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the band and comes ahead of their much anticipated October shows, is anything but dull or packed with filler. Recorded at selected shows over a 12 year period, CD 1 opens with a number of lesser known tracks recorded in Berlin (2007, 2009 & 2011), London (2009) and Sheffield (2007). Mainly tracks that at the time were from the relevant new album at the time of the recording, the only irritation is that the introductions tend to follow the same patter: “this one is from the new album …” However, there are some gems hidden away, such as a raucous Witchfinder General from Berlin 2009, the emotionally charged Red Star Falling about the fall of communism, and a pumping Play It Loud from Berlin 2011, humorous in it’s Spinal Tap style as Biff tries to update some of the lyrics to reflect modern times, replacing ‘radio’ with ‘Youtube’.
Disc 2 brings us into 2013 & 2014 with the majority of the tracks recorded at Wacken Open Air 2014. This allows a bit more of the classic Saxon to come to the fore, with Crusader, The Eagle Has Landed, Power And The Glory, Dallas 1PM, Princess Of The Night and Denim And Leather all given the Saxon treatment. It’s only when you hear Saxon live that you appreciate just how heavy they can be. Shredding guitars, pounding drums and Biff’s soaring vocals all reliable and consistent. Bringing us up to date on Disc 3, with some neat guests joining in to add a bit of spice. Helsinki 2015 sees Phil Campbell join for 747 (Strangers In The Night), London 2016 captures the late ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke jamming on Ace Of Spades whilst 2018’s show in San Antonio supporting Judas Priest enabled the band’s producer and current Priest guitarist Andy Sneap to join the band on a balls-out version of 20,000FT. With a smattering of the most recent songs from the Battering Ram release recorded in Manchester, Stockholm and London last year, the catalogue is completed with They Played Rock And Roll, The Secret Of Flight and Battering Ram.
Whilst there are some moments on here which I could do without, a drum solo for example during Conquistador, there is still a majestic feel to Saxon in the live arena. The Eagle Has Landed at Wacken, complete with string section gives me goosebumps with its steady build up and the opening meandering guitar work of Paul Quinn, the crunching riff a classic heavy metal style which no band does better. Still one of the hardest working bands in the World, Saxon have never taken anything for granted. They have a devoted fan base who will have lapped this release up. October can’t come quick enough. Saxon at 40. Still totally epic. 8/10
Tungsten: We Will Rise (Arising Empire) [Matt Bladen]
This is the debut album from brand new Swedish melodic power metal band Tungsten. It was formed by former Hammerfall and Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force drummer Anders Johansson after his sons Karl (bass) and Nick (guitar) let him listen to some songs they had composed together. He then started to refine the songs with his sons bringing in Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, ex Planet Alliance, Fullforce) on vocals. The style of this album is odd with Anders' older school influences blending with his son's more modern styles, many of these come in the middle of the album bookended by the power metal sounds. There's a some jazz on the beginning of Sweet Vendetta which kicks into some industrial almost pop sounds giving a carnival feel, but much of the album is what I would call Hammerfall-lite, if the legendary power metal Swedes continued on their path started on Infected this is what they would sound like, power metal at it's heart but with modern sounds coming through.
Animals has a goth metal meets SYL sound, but there is more traditional fayre on We Will Rise, Misled and The Fairies Dance which are all folk styled classic metal tracks more in keeping with the theme shown by “Volfram”, the man on the album cover who is holding a guiding lantern and a battle axe designed by the man who has drawn Hammerfall's mascot Hector. For a debut record We Will Rise is a strong statement of intent, it is a little all over the place but with a little refinement they could be a real force on the melodic/power metal scene bringing sounds that many wouldn't expect. 7/10
Rebel Machine: Whatever It Takes (Big Balls Productions) [Matt Bladen]
Hmm Brazilian four-piece from Brazil made up of bearded guys? It's going to be stoner rock right? Well actually no...Rebel Machine are more akin to Foo Fighters with some notes to Swedes The Hellacopters and Backyard Babies. It's full of sleazy hard rocking songs that are made for beer drinking and hell raising, though with a ear for a massive hook and an occasional ballad to show another side of the band. Now even though this band are from Brazil, they have a style that is very American sounding with nods to the European influences mentioned previously. I listened to this album twice fully and neither time it really stuck with me, yes the songs are good and they're catchy, hard rocking and encourage you to play them loud, but 10 minutes after you've finished listening to the record I struggled to recall any of them, maybe it's me, maybe a bigger fan of bands like this would be singing these tracks for weeks afterwards. Unfortunately for me this album is well executed and written but a little throwaway. 6/10
Darkened: Into The Blackness (Chaos Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Four songs. 15 minutes. Sufficient to lay a marker in the ground. Enter Darkened. A heady mix of death metal alumni. Drummer Andy Whale (Ex-Bolt Thrower/Memoriam) links with guitarists Hempa Brynolfsson (Excruciate) and Linus Nirbrant (A/Canorous Quintet/ The Ending), bassist Daryl Kahan (Dimsa) and the gruesome vocals of Gord Olson (Demisery). Into The Blackness is powerful. It’s imposing. Full of heavy riffing and thunderous blast beating drums, delivered with experience, maturity and confidence. Comfortably paced, controlled and yet with an air of menace and malevolence that leaves you slightly uneasy. How Death Metal should be. Become absorbed Into The Blackness. 8/10
This is the debut album from brand new Swedish melodic power metal band Tungsten. It was formed by former Hammerfall and Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force drummer Anders Johansson after his sons Karl (bass) and Nick (guitar) let him listen to some songs they had composed together. He then started to refine the songs with his sons bringing in Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, ex Planet Alliance, Fullforce) on vocals. The style of this album is odd with Anders' older school influences blending with his son's more modern styles, many of these come in the middle of the album bookended by the power metal sounds. There's a some jazz on the beginning of Sweet Vendetta which kicks into some industrial almost pop sounds giving a carnival feel, but much of the album is what I would call Hammerfall-lite, if the legendary power metal Swedes continued on their path started on Infected this is what they would sound like, power metal at it's heart but with modern sounds coming through.
Animals has a goth metal meets SYL sound, but there is more traditional fayre on We Will Rise, Misled and The Fairies Dance which are all folk styled classic metal tracks more in keeping with the theme shown by “Volfram”, the man on the album cover who is holding a guiding lantern and a battle axe designed by the man who has drawn Hammerfall's mascot Hector. For a debut record We Will Rise is a strong statement of intent, it is a little all over the place but with a little refinement they could be a real force on the melodic/power metal scene bringing sounds that many wouldn't expect. 7/10
Rebel Machine: Whatever It Takes (Big Balls Productions) [Matt Bladen]
Hmm Brazilian four-piece from Brazil made up of bearded guys? It's going to be stoner rock right? Well actually no...Rebel Machine are more akin to Foo Fighters with some notes to Swedes The Hellacopters and Backyard Babies. It's full of sleazy hard rocking songs that are made for beer drinking and hell raising, though with a ear for a massive hook and an occasional ballad to show another side of the band. Now even though this band are from Brazil, they have a style that is very American sounding with nods to the European influences mentioned previously. I listened to this album twice fully and neither time it really stuck with me, yes the songs are good and they're catchy, hard rocking and encourage you to play them loud, but 10 minutes after you've finished listening to the record I struggled to recall any of them, maybe it's me, maybe a bigger fan of bands like this would be singing these tracks for weeks afterwards. Unfortunately for me this album is well executed and written but a little throwaway. 6/10
Darkened: Into The Blackness (Chaos Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Four songs. 15 minutes. Sufficient to lay a marker in the ground. Enter Darkened. A heady mix of death metal alumni. Drummer Andy Whale (Ex-Bolt Thrower/Memoriam) links with guitarists Hempa Brynolfsson (Excruciate) and Linus Nirbrant (A/Canorous Quintet/ The Ending), bassist Daryl Kahan (Dimsa) and the gruesome vocals of Gord Olson (Demisery). Into The Blackness is powerful. It’s imposing. Full of heavy riffing and thunderous blast beating drums, delivered with experience, maturity and confidence. Comfortably paced, controlled and yet with an air of menace and malevolence that leaves you slightly uneasy. How Death Metal should be. Become absorbed Into The Blackness. 8/10
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