Lars Ulrich (Metallica) famously recount the first experience of hearing Saxons "Motorcycle Man" in a record store. The motorcycle sound shifting between the channels a couple of times then giving way to a rip-roaring metal riff. An all-out assault on your ears.
"Wheels Of Steel" was the album that put Saxon on the map - it actually reached the top 5 in the UK charts (man those were the days). It is quintessential Saxon, fast hard hitting, riff-based hard-rock/metal with good melodies. The closest relative to their sound I would say is German Accept. The difficult zone between hard-rock and metal have rarely been exploited as well as these two bands did and it is not hyperbole to say that it is Saxon who were most succesful in bridging the gap. A band like Scorpions were never this much metal, while the true metal bands never brought the necessary melodies in the traditional rock'n'roll feel.
"747" is another classic that fits the same formula but still manages to stand out. Byford's voice at first can seem to be plain, but listen carefully and you find hat he can deliver the necessary phrasing to be both melodic and heavy. This is not as easy as it may sound. I have seen recent live recording with him, 40 years on and he can still deliver this enviable mix.
"Wheels of Steel" yet another classic, that is so simple yet very effective. Basically a "3 chord" hard-rocker, with an extremely simple chorus. But this is what makes rock'n'roll, it doe not have to be ELP complexity to be great. Simplicity is at times preferable to just get energy channelled.
"Freeway Mad" is a bit too generic for my taste and the Motorhead-like rocker "See The light Shining" is also inferior to the better tracks on here. For some reason I get some "The Sweet" vibes her, not sure why. Maybe it is the drum/rhythm guitar outro fade.
"Suzie hold On" is a mid-tempo rocker. Actually the weakest point on the album, b ut the single that was pulled from album. Don't think this was what carried the album into the Top 5, but rather the general meteoric rise of all things metal in britain at this time.
"Machine Gun" is again VERY Motorhead - and surely a competitor for the most Motorhead track Motorhead not made by Motorhead. this is as "punk" as Saxon ever gets. Byford's voice does not fit this style as well as Lemmy imo, and wisely this is more a passing phase of Saxon's repertoire than a mainstay.
All in all a must have album that should be a part of any serious metal collection. It may not be their best though, I miss a bit as variation and when they try something like "Suzie Hold On" it does not work as well as needed. Striking a balance between the styles hey master is a key but also the biggest hurdle.
- Motorcycle Man
- Stand Up and Be Counted
- 747 (Strangers in the Night)
- Wheels of Steel
- Freeway Mad
- See the Light Shining
- Street Fighting Gang
- Suzie Hold On
- Machine Gun