After hearing people online saying this album was better than Iron Maiden's most recent album "Senjtutsu" I decided to give it a shot. Though such claims seem far-fetched from the get-go as Saxon's waning popularity was largely due to the fact their sound has not evolved greatly from the 80s. where Iron Maiden over time transitioned from the 80s metal sound over the years to a more progressive sound that did not wear the 80s as heavily on its sleeve. Biff Byford and Paul Quinn serve as the only two original members, though their drummer has been with the band since their fourth album "Denim and Leather". The opening track upholds my suspicions as it does not find the band venturing past the sound of their 80s work.
The first song that shows any other 89s fist pumping is the third song "Pilgrimage". The chords ring out in a manner similar to AC/DC's "Hell's Bells". Though I am not sure anyone would accuse these guys of being the most original band in the world. While defending the faith and sticking to what works is an admirable trait, think of an album like "Painkiller" where Judas Priest did this but without remaining stuck in 1984, "Dambusters" almost sounds like a parody of 80's metal or a Deep Purple b-side. At 71 Byford is eight years older than Dickinson, his voice has held up pretty well. Though In the studio the same could be said of Rob Halford, yet Rob's voice shows the wear and tear of the years live. Despite the Priest like attack of the opening riff "Remember the Fallen" would be rock n roll if not for Byford's dramatic vocal stylings. The chorus is more like their "Innocence is No Excuse "era work where their sound became watered down as an attempt to go for a more commercial sound.
"Super Nova" is more Preist style in its attack. Byford's falsetto highs are good for a man his age but layered as more of background affect rather than given the spotlight. Granted the metal yodel is a keystone of the 80s and not something embraced by metal today. The more melodic section the guitar solo erupts upon is pretty cool, but nothings really mind blowing and in term of technicality these guys do not come anywhere near what Maiden pulls off. "Lady in Gray" might show a side of the band that influenced Queensryche, but Geoff Tate and the boys did this better in their heyday. But for what this is "Lady in Gray" is one of the album's better songs, melodic passages while sticking to a chug out of 1987.
"All For One" sounds like it could have come from a Fastaway album. Though the chorus is a little more upbeat than what they would have done. For cheesy might be another way to say it. Byford's voice does not have the same balls to it that Bruce's does. "Black is the Night" might have the heaviest riff on the album. Though the vocals kind drag it back into the realm of spandex. While this is impressive in terms of power, even one of the album's strongest moments seems rather regressive when compared to what Maiden does. Too many of the cooler riffs just seem like wasted landscape for guitar solos. The song title "Living Living on the Limit" says it all when it comes to the scope of originality to be found here. No wonder these guys were the inspiration for Spinal Tap.
If you think about all the great artists, they never end where they begin The Beatles , David Bowie, Led Zeppelin all had careers that saw their sound grow, even metal bands like Sabbath, Maiden and Slayer all found their sound progress rather than allow themselves standing in one place, when Saxon changed the ebb and flow was more about watering down or solidifying something they did in one fixed era of time. I will give this album an 8.5 as they are great at encapsulating the 80s, but 24 albums later they should have a wider range than they show here. A lesson they should have learned back when they got dropped by their label in 1988. So if your tasted are still stunted in one period of time, you have already heard them do this before, but they are still great at being a one trick pony.
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