Saxon--Lionheart
SPV 2004
When a legendary band fractures, the fallout can be very confusing. So it goes for Saxon. You see, there are actually two versions of the band operating simultanously, one captained by founding members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson. Then, there's the Biff Byford led wing of Saxon. On their new album Lionheart, the legendary vocalist and his reworked crew silence all whispers of controversy by delivering one of the year's metal bests.
With the Oliver/Dawson tandem gone, you might expect this Saxon lineup to be a bit lacking. Rest assured, that preconception is definitely incorrect. Lionheart is filled to the brim with all the tasteful, epic, NWOBHM goodness you'd hope for. Most importantly, it has all of those things along with the quality you'd expect and demand of the Saxon name. You really couldn't ask for much more than this disc gives you.
Any album succeeds or fails based mainly on song quality and Lionheart really delivers in this regard. The epic title track has a very sophisticated feeling "Sacred Heart" Dio vibe, while "English Man'o'war" recalls the more rocked out moments of that outfit. Saxon also show a great grasp of dynamics on the acoustic "Jack Tars" which reeks of medieval folk music. Still, you come to these guys first and foremost for that old school palm muted frenzy we all love and you get it superbly on both "Justice" and "To Live By The Sword." Saxon ultimately bring their power and subtlety together in perfect synergy during "Searching For Atlantis," a cut sure to thrill fans of Dokken's best work.
Bottom line: Biff can still scream with the best of them and his new guys destroy practically everything else in sight on Lionheart. This disc is so top shelf, it should herd an entire new flock of fans into the Saxon fold. It might take the diehards a little longer to give in, for sentimental reasons, but this listen will prove undeniable. Bravo.
Score this CD directly from SPV
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