by Sean “The Hell Destroyer” Peck
— Guest Columnist —
This is my very first album review; this is how I roll after reading hundreds reviewing my stuff, now the shoe is on the other foot. Ha! Or whatever the saying is.
This album starts out with the title track and a Biff Byford wail and a punchy quick riff that sets the standard for what is an excellent album. I am not a huge Saxon guy, but I saw them open for Judas Priest on their last album and they kicked ass. My initial reaction is the guitar tones sound good and the mix is punchy and smooth. A good mix is like an offensive line in football, if you don’t talk about it or notice it, then it’s probably good. This might not be the song I would open the album with it but it is rocking enough to start the journey.
The next track is the “Age of Steam” with a cool tapping guitar that builds into some killer heavy shit. Fuck yes, they should have opened the album with this banger. The chorus is Metal as fuck. It is the “Age of Steam.” The lead section is nice and tasty too on this one. The verse is classic Saxon style.
When we get to the “Pilgrimage” we have some monk chanting sounds and keys building an ominous intro, then the clean guitar comes in with some big chords. It is a slow rocker but has a nice vibe that doesn’t put you to sleep. So far, the album is working all the levers right.
“Dambusters” is up next with a kick-ass speedy gallop and a cool riff. I always wonder if I went into band practice and said, “Dudes I got a new song it is called “Dambusters!”” They would have told me that is some weak shit, think of something else, but Saxon makes it work. Some cool Iron Maiden-like bridge parts that noodle some pretty melodies are there before the wah-wah pedal lead starts wailing. I dig it enough.
“Remember the Fallen” keeps it up-tempo a bit, a solid track here. It is a very historic album with tales of the past and stories of history it seems, this is one of the things that Metal is great at. The chorus is solid here. And Biff is sounding solid so far on this album.
“Super Nova” starts out with a super heavy river and double bass drums. FUCK YEAH! This track is the heaviest probably on the record. It is in Painkiller territory. Cool pre-chorus structure and chorus hook. Well done lads!
“Lady in Gray,” this is a pretty cool song with lots of strong parts. The chorus comes in a bit late for me it has an interesting arrangement on this one. Probably the weakest song so far and it is still pretty good.
The next track “All For One” has me cringing at a riff that has been done a bazillion times. Then it gets going in a different direction thankfully. This seems like a pretty generic Metal song overall. Biff sounds great on it though. I would have made this a bonus, even the title and chorus have been outplayed, they should have Googled the title before they went with this. The lead seems a bit out of the mix on this one too for some reason.
“Black is the Night” rips! A generic riff that I love this time! Winter and white bears and shit, cool lyrics. Probably my favorite chorus on the record. Any chorus that has the word night in it I am a sucker for. The second time the chorus comes around the bail the money riff, no! Why!? I would have burnt that chorus and riff into oblivion. Oh well, it breaks down into a vibey lead section then we don’t get the goods until the very end.
The last one is “Living On the Limit.” Fast one that has a good fun drive fast feel. A good way to end the album on a high note.
Overall my top album of the year so far besides the (Death Dealer EP and whatever else I release this year! Ha!) The band is still a Metal force and new bands that dabble in this genre should take note of how to write songs with hooks and great melody. These guys would still crush most new Heavy Metal bands today and provide great inspiration for me and my generation who is just 10 years younger than them. Well Done.
Genre: Heavy Metal
Band Members:
Paul Quinn / Guitars
Biff Byford / Vocals
Nigel Glockler / Drums
Nibbs Carter / Bass
Doug Scarratt / Guitars
Track List:
Carpe Diem (Seize The Day)
Age Of Steam
The Pilgrimage
Dambusters
Remember The Fallen
Super Nova
Lady In Gray
All For One
Black Is The Night
Living On The Limit
Label: Silver Lining Music
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.8 / 10)
