This, ladies and hemorrhoids, is what NWOBHM was all about. To me, Saxon were the best band to come out of this period. Even though they disappeared into the wilderness for a while, they had all the songs and could write a tune. Now, I know everyone will say Maiden were the best – blah blah blah – but to me, a lad from “OOP NORTH”, Saxon were the schnizz!!! I’m from Doncaster, a working class town where the coal mines and railways were the main industries (until Thatcher destroyed them, but that’s another story) – it was also the land of the working man’s club. I remember seeing Son Of A Bitch a few times in said clubs before they were Saxon. To see one of our own making it was awesome.
There is not one bad track on this record – in fact – there were even two hit singles on this opus of awesomeness. 747 Strangers In The Night, which is a great choice for a single, and Wheels Of Steel with that repetitive riff – plus they got to play on Top Of The Pops. Opening track was an anthem for the NWOBHM movement as a whole – what a flag bearing track it is. Freeway Mad carries on the fast bike and car theme that opens side two – a belter of a track. Every song is just fantastic right up until album closer, Machine Gun, where Graham would do his tribute to Hendrix by setting fire and smashing up a guitar.
I could go into lengthy detail how one person took control of the band, which is a sad tale to tell as the heart and soul of the band was removed. The band are still rocking today, and I hold out hope for Graham and Steve that one day all hatchets can be buried and see them all on stage again. A classic.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
