SAXON — Saxon (review)

SAXON — Saxon album cover Album · 1979 · NWoBHM Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
The eponymous debut album by SAXON is another one of those first releases of a band that would go on to greatness but often gets overlooked behind the bigwig albums that followed probably because it encompasses a whole bunch of different sounds not fully gelling into a cohesiveness. I have a soft spot for these kinds of early albums in a band’s career and SAXON is no exception. The band formed in 1976 under the name “Son Of A Bitch” but changed their name soon after and then managed to get gigs and tour with bands like Motorhead. By the time they released this album in 1979 they already had a sizable following and only gained even more traction from here on.

This album displays perfectly SAXON the influencer as well as SAXON the influencee. While this debut doesn’t quite find the band in the NWOBHM that they would become so famous for, what we do have here is an interesting transition album of the late 70s that finds itself sounding more like the 70s bands that came before than the metal bands that came after. Many of the tracks here incorporate the bluesy twin guitar hard rock delivered by Think Lizzy and while others have a bad boy boogie woogie vibe of Bon Scott led AC/DC. Some of the more bluesy numbers can even bring The Allman Brothers or Wishbone Ash to mind and there are other small doses of influence ranging from Judas Priest, UFO, Uriah Heep, Queen and Magnum.

While not yet blossomed into the full heavy metal mode of music here there are definitely signs that SAXON was heavily influential on the NWOBM that was quickly gaining ground on the musical landscape. Just listen to the second part of the first track “Rainbow Theme” and tell me it doesn’t remind you of the guitar and drum parts of “Revelations” by Iron Maiden and likewise the second track “Big Teaser” which is actually a glam rock track has an intro that which sounds very much like the opening riff of “2 Minutes To Midnight.” It is clear that Maiden were one of the early fans and although i love the mighty Maiden a lot more overall, respect must be paid to the influences as well as those who perfect those developments.

Overall, i find this to be an interesting listen with sounds moving on into all kinds of arenas. There are some progressive developments “Rainbow Theme / Frozen Rainbow”, sleazy, cheesy lyric oriented glam rock in “Big Teaser,” and “Still Fit To Boogie” and AC/DC sounding raucous rockers in the form of “Stallions Of The Highway.” Biff Byford’s vocals have an epic quality to them and Pete Gill’s drumming skills are taking the musicianship into a new musical world signifying a shift from the 70s hard rock to the NWOBHM that was brewing up a storm. Certainly not their best by any means but one that needs a little more love and respect than it gets IMHO.
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