Saxon - Sacrifice (2013)

There once was a time, in the middle of the grunge-swamped 1990s, that a new record from Brit metallers Saxon wasn’t welcomed with open arms. To many, at the time, Saxon were dust-ridden dinosaurs from a long gone and stale era, and, clad in their denim n’ leather they had become a laughing stock alongside just about every other metal band that had refused to play the game at the time. And yet, here we are, almost decades later celebrating one of the genre’s finest bands. Isn’t life a strange thing? Aren’t music fans fickle? Saxon, like Iron Maiden, although to a less successful extent, has become a British institution. They are a group of guys – lead by the silver-haired warrior Biff Byford – who have stood the test of time, and yet are just as comfortable playing sold out arenas as they are in their local pub, but just one spin of their latest opus Sacrifice and you’ll be wondering why the ‘90s were so cruel to them. Just a few years ago I saw the five-piece supporting Motorhead in order to promote their Into The Labyrinth opus and I have to admit that they blew the headliners away. Sacrifice just happens to blow me away too. Amazingly I’d heard rumours that this could well be the bands last record, but on this form, I pray it isn’t. The title track alone is proof that Saxon can compete with the best of them – the crisp production courtesy of Andy Sneap and the raging guitars of Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt have turned this band into a truly monstrous structure, a writhing, frothing behemoth that sounds as fresh as a demonic daisy. Believe me, slap the title track on any record player (or ipod if you must) and metalheads will be banging their head all night. Anyone who ever said Saxon is over the hill needs their ears checked, because this ten track platter is a real spine extractor. And, if you want further proof of its ability to remove bones from the body, then lend a bloody ear to the slab that is ‘Guardians of the Tomb’ with its sweeping guitar intro and heart-thumping drums courtesy of sticksman Nigel Glockler. This is truly formidable metal made all the more epic by Byford’s distinctive, crystal clear wails and that tumultuous bass from Nibbs Carter. Saxon have moved into the current century boosted not just by the metal revival, by more so by the fact that they have metal heart’s – they no longer creak and stumble like the Tin Man from Oz, instead they are now a well-oiled machine, a cutting metal behemoth able to adapt their sound not just to arenas and festivals, but small heaving clubs which originally gave birth to such a beast. Underrated is not the word to describe these guys, they have been criminally ignored since their inception, and those who mocked will be left eating humble pie once again when they experience another fine record. In fact, the last batch of Saxon records have matched anything Maiden and Motorhead have achieved, and despite devoting, albeit rather cheesily, a track to Formula One racing in the form of ‘Warriors of the Road,’ it’s still a clattering rhino of a cut that drives harder than a Lewis Hamilton machine. Biff is a roaring lion-heart of a man, who once again gives the performance of his life. His voice was made for the AC/DC style groove of ‘Standing in a Queue’ where his vocals take on a Bon Scott style drool as the guitars jolt and jab in true Angus Young style. And for those of you wanting something a little more weighty then check out the ominous chug of ‘Made in Belfast’, this is a Goliath of a track that pounds hard. Anyone with a metal soul should find this track as steely as its subject matter – yep, it’s about a ship – but that’s the magic of Saxon. Whether it’s songs about the wind, or British manufacturing, they’ve always delivered their subjects with conviction. Sacrifice is easily as good as their classic early ‘80s albums but knowing how fickle music fans can be, such a record will probably receive a lukewarm reception, simply because it’s not “fashionable”, but who cares, it’s Saxon, so shut up and buy it. 8.5/10