This fifth studio album makes a new era for Saxon. It seems that the change of drummer and the sign of the times of US style hair metal had its influence on their style. Maybe a desire to break the USA was also a calculated attempt, by adjusting the sounds palet to something more digestable by US tastes.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind this is a significant step down in quality. Mostly the "rough" hard-rock/metal has been substituted with a flatter, dryer and more polished sound. It is no new aspect, that bands find themselves trying out new areas as they become settled both to stay relevant and avoid repeating themselves. But why that will lead to lumping themselves together with a bunch of generic hardrock bands with a similar mediocre sound I do not understand. It rarely works out well to go from having your own style to emulating others. Saxon usually walks a fine line between melodic rock and metal and if they are not up to scratch in their songwriting, they basically become a parody of themselves.
I struggle to find any particular track that stands out - either in a positive way or a negative way ... It all just feels average and dangerously generic, without that usual Saxon spice, which made the previous albums interesting. It does sounds much like Saxon and basically have most of the trademarks - but the way it is done just does have the same nerve as on prior efforts. An average album at best, without any real standout stuff at all. It feels like they are just doing this out of duty rather than artistic interest. The most distinguishable track is the long, mid- to slow tempo closer "The Eagle Has Landed" ... But.. It is rather boring and uninspiring. It would have helped with some of their usual tempo-shifts and breaks, but this one just drones along. A sign of metal fatigueness.
- "Power and the Glory"
- "Redline"
- "Warrior"
- "Nightmare"
- "This Town Rocks"
- "Watching the Sky"
- "Midas Touch"
- "The Eagle Has Landed"