|  Comments:
Having received Saxon’s new CD six months after its release,
I had already heard a tremendous amount of solid buzz about Lionheart.
And you can trust me on one thing; I will certainly not be the buzz
kill on this one. The CD rocks from start to finish. The legendary
British Heavy Metal act that crossed the Atlantic at the same time
as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard still take Metal serious and play
as inspired as they ever have. With an album centered on Richard,
the Lionheart and English warriors, Biff Byford and company do their
best to wage total and complete war.
Actually,
this whole album should be taught to every potential Metal band
from now until eternity. It has all the ingredients so many of the
newcomers lack; guitar speed with clarity, vocals working with the
guitars and not drowning them out by screaming over them, a strong
bass line and drums, and finally, a solid job of writing lyrics.
Those same lyrics are both sung and screamed perfectly by Byford.
And the fast, hard-charging rhythm guitar work is as solid as can
be. Axe-mates Quinn and Scaratt are clean, soulful and original
with their solos as well, especially on “Man and Machine”
and “Beyond the Grave.” “Justice” and “To
Live by the Sword” contain the heaviest guitar on the album,
and the dueling solo work in both is first rate as well. The double
bass drumming of newcomer, former Stratovarius pounder, Jorg Michael
is even and powerful. Saxon, recording their first album in their
home of England in more than 15 years, seems to have been inspired
by the home cooking, and it shows through and through. The album’s
caboose “Flying On The Edge” is more like an Abrams
M1A1 (Tank) as the guitars charge forward into enemy held territory
with reckless abandon. Fellow metal slaves, this CD is a really
enjoyable 45 minutes of pure old school British Metal, and I highly
recommend it to those that have yet to pick one up.
Line-up:
Biff Byford - vocals, Paul Quinn - guitar, Doug Scarratt - guitar,
Nibbs Carter - bass, Jörg Michael - drums
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