Worship Metal Album Of The Week – Saxon – Battering Ram

Two years on from Sacrifice – and less than a year on from the serious illness that could have derailed the career of drummer Nigel Glockler – Saxon unleash their 21st studio album upon the world with the aptly titled Battering Ram. Much like Motörhead, Saxon have been on a rich run of form over the past ten years and the good news is that with this album their great form continues!
 
There’s an undeniable comfort in knowing what you’re going to get with a new Saxon album and that’s top class, honest, no frills (but plenty of thrills), melodic heavy metal. The album starts in bullish form with the explosive title track, an ode to the headbanging hordes that fill concert halls around the world and it’s safe to say that there is never a dip in quality amongst the 9 steel-shaking songs that follow. You could safely pick any track at random, be it the hammer horror-esque “The Devils Footprint“, the Deep Purple on steroids of “Destroyer” or the chest-beating machismo of “Top Of The World” and intense metal pleasure is 100% guaranteed. However, special mention must go to “Kingdom Of The Cross”, which -in typical Saxon fashion – takes the side of the everyday working man, and in this case, those who died in their thousands on the killing grounds of Flanders. The song is part poem, part ballad and a poignant, beautiful tribute to those that died during the Great War and a track to rival the glories of “Broken Heroes” from the underrated Innocence Is No Excuse.
 
Battering Ram sees each member of the band in the form of their lives with Nigel Glockler acting as the glue that holds it all together. With an unfussy style which suits Saxon perfectly he can still be a percussive demon when needs be. Paul Quinn and Doug Scarrett are a guitar duo that never get enough credit and they riff and solo like absolute lunatics from beginning to end – just check out “Hard And Fast” where they trade one blistering solo for another -while Biff Byford remains a metal talisman, his commanding presence steering Saxon into ever heavier waters with a voice that appears ageless.
 
After 39 years, Saxon still have a ferocious hunger and passion for their craft that puts most bands to shame and they remain proud standard bearers for the music we love. Unlike Iron Maiden, Saxon have not disappeared up their own collective arse but have released another modern day classic and not a tedious snooze fest like Book Of Souls. Battering Ram simply reaffirms Saxon’s position as the best British heavy metal band in operation.
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I somewhat concur. This album is blisteringly excellent.
 

"Worship" Metal? 

Impressive. 
 
Speaking of Maiden - we placed the order for Book of Souls 3 or 4 weeks ago, but it's been back order ever since. Quite successful as far as I can tell.
 
Not that I am expecting to like it much, but I need to learn one of the songs. As far as I can tell from a quick audition on iTunes, it won't reconcile me with 21st century Maiden. (Steve Harris needs to be kicked out of the producer chair).

Hi,
 
I was about to say that I had not heard that band for at least 20 years ... time to freshen up!

This kind of references Krist's individual idyosincratic tastes thread...but no matter what group of, presumably, talented musicians I hear playing this or most anything like it...it's all Spinal Tap to me.

yorolpal
This kind of references Krist's individual idyosincratic tastes thread...but no matter what group of, presumably, talented musicians I hear playing this or most anything like it...it's all Spinal Tap to me.

I thought it was Jazz, no?  I mean, with all that Sax... 

Wow ! The review makes entertaining reading, you can really believe it ........ Hmmm, no.

Sorry, they should have given up many years ago.

Just my 2 cents, others may differ.

Jerry

craigb
"Worship" Metal? 

 
As in:

yorolpal
This kind of references Krist's individual idyosincratic tastes thread...but no matter what group of, presumably, talented musicians I hear playing this or most anything like it...it's all Spinal Tap to me.

A couple of months back I asked my good friend Steve to create sort of a set list so that I could finally get what Saxon was all about. They weren't that big where I come from and at the time when I could have gained an interest in them, their record sleeves kind of put me off (I know, silly - but I was a kid, and to this day, I still have a natural reluctance towards knights and swords and all things medieval in heavy metal).
 
I'm still working my way through it and I can't say that I'm the biggest fan but I've started to get it, and I thought this one was rather good. 
 
But I do understand what you mean. ;)

Rain
...at the time when I could have gained an interest in them, their record sleeves kind of put me off ...

Heh, exactly why it took me a lot of years to finally get into Iron Maiden!  I've always preferred completely safe album covers (take pretty much anything from Yes for example).