Album Review: Into The Labyrinth - Saxon
Heavy Metal has always been a slightly ludicrous thing - and I say this as a fan. Few bands epitomise that more than Saxon - the band that allegedly inspired Spinal Tap. In fairness, Saxon are also a prime example of everything that is good about the genre; showmanship, musicianship, dogged determination and undying loyalty to, and from, their fans.
This 24th Saxon album remains as preposterous as ever but works best where the band stick to their well worn formula.
Live to Rock and
Slow Lane Blues vary little from classic tracks
Wheels of Steel and
Strong Arm Of the Law, but still engender as much excitement as the latter songs did almost 30 years ago.
That other Saxon staple, the historical anthem, is also catered for with
Battalions of Steel and
Valley Of the Kings but less successfully as, perhaps in an attempt to re-launch themselves post-Channel 4 documentary, they stray just a little too far into Dragonforce (Saxonforce?) territory. The speed riffing and overwrought twiddling a poor substitute for the slow-burning power of
Dallas 1pm or
The Eagle Has Landed.
Elsewhere things are fairly bland, although
Demon Sweeney Todd isn’t bad.
Hellcat though is dreadful but nothing can prepare you for Biff’s pathetic warbling on the acoustic blues of
Coming Home – if you thought the half-time air guitar stunt from the Get Your Act Together documentary was embarrassing, think again!
Overall a disappointing effort when compared to the magnificent albums served up by other returning icons Whitesnake, Metallica and AC/DC but there is enough here to suggest that Saxon have still got what that takes and that whilst there is life left in the old warriors perhaps there is still hope of one last momentous album.
Rating: Good
It seems that everything The Boss touches turns to gold and this latest nugget is nothing less than pure 24-karat. What makes Working On A Dream even more of an achievement is that the majority of it was recorded on the road and in just one or two takes. This is not run-of-the-mill formulaic stuff either - rather it is an exploration of moods, emotions and styles that rewards repeated listening. Take opener Outlaw Pete for example. A western fable weighing in at a full eight minutes that' s not afraid to risk sounding silly or contrived. This is a life-affirming album from a man who has lived and loved and lost and survived to tell the tale - and it is simply magnificent.
