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Saxon - Wheels of Steel Audio CD

A fair review of the Saxon "Wheels of Steel" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Saxon reviews here, or go back to the Saxon tabs.

Saxon Band: Saxon
Title: Wheels of Steel
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-11-17
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Motorcycle Man 2: Stand Up and Be Counted 3: 747 (Strangers in the Night) 4: Wheels of Steel 5: Freeway Mad 6: See the Light Shining 7: Street Fighting Gang 8: Suzie Hold On 9: Machine Gun

A classic.
It's a shame, too, because these guys really rocked. Despite their prolific nature, Saxon never got to enjoy the huge success of their NWOBHM contemporaries such as Motorhead and Iron Maiden. Or, rather, rock. They're still out there doing their thing.

I actually never checked these guys out until about two years ago and this was the album I got first. I was a year from birth in 1980 so I wasn't really around to "live" this whole thing. But the funny thing is, listening to this album, it actually feels like 1980. How can that be? How can a guy hear nostalgic sounds from a period he wasn't around to experience? Beats me. But just listen to 747 (Strangers in the Night) and you'll pick up what I'm putting down. This album oozes an early 80s hard rock/metal vibe. Dark, but not morbid. Rocking, but nothing that makes you want to fight the kid next door. Just straight ahead classic early metal to pump your fists to.


saxon nwobhm
a good hard-rocking album that's firmly plays Saxon as a leader in the new wave of British heavy metal, but you will be much happier getting the remastered copy of Saxon's Strong Arm of the Law,from the same year.


Turn it up to 11, 12, 13 , 14.......................................................................
I got the two pack Wheels of steel/strong arm of the law and Steel is so astoundingly terrific it defies description. There are no words to describe what a heavy metal milestone this album represents. Every song is a winner especially Motorcycle man (the lead guitar solo loosens dental fillings) and Wheels of steel has a cat scratch fever feel to it but is an instant classic of metal. Quit reading this and start playing the cd. WOW!!! Metal music to last a lifetime. .


NWOBHM masterwork
The simple fact is that apart from the NWOBHM heroes we all know such as Def Leppard only a few of them were actually any good, regardless of how important the movement was in the history of hard rock/heavy metal. One of the greatest documents of the NWOBHM, Saxons Wheels of Steel stands head and shoulders above so many of it's peers that it's almost cruel to name names.

And the fact is that on the strength of this album Saxon were one of the few. This molten slab of pub infused metal is unkempt and raucous in it's delivery, oozing passionate zeal with a band experienced enough to know what they were doing while still being young enough to have that irreplaceable, one off youthful bravado at the opening possibilities. Wheels of Steel is a collection of heads down numbers. The production is simple and traditional as one would expect of the albums vintage. The cover art is minimalist (on my pressing anyway) and the entire package is understated. Except for the music.

Some of Saxons best songs are on this album, Motorcycle Man, 747 (Strangers in the Night) and the title track itself. All are great metal songs that race along with purity of mission. And the reason this album hangs together so well is that even though the other songs all meld together. Every song sounds like it belongs here despite the fact that not all are up to the same standard. An almost AC/DC like consistency is at play here as everything gels.

I truly feel that on this album Saxon hit a groove that they rarely achieved again. It is the place to start for my mind, as opposed to the compilation album entitled Collection of Metal which for me was too middling and spent too much time on their weaker late 80's material. In fact my gut instinct is that this single album is better than that supposed best of. Buy this instead to find out what the fuss was about in regards to Saxon. They were/are a second or even third tier band overall, but here they really do fire up.


Classic British METAL!!!!!
I really have to say that this album was mindblowing! it blew the windows out of my house, Saxon really knew what true heavy metal was! This is an alternitive to other british metal bands like def leppard, iron maiden and judas preist that have been consumed by the commercail sickness and have had been repeating the same formula for over 20 years. Saxon's "Wheels of Steel" was my introduction into saxon and NWOBHM era bands. Saxon is all out kick @$$ metal. the first track of the album will get you right in the action,"motorcycle man" is a fast paced rocker simular to deep purple "highway star" but much heavier. other mentionables include "747,stangerinthenight" which is about a 747 low on gas with no place to land. the title track is a mid paced heavy tune that is pretty good but can get repeatative with its lyrics at time. "freeway mad" is another fast driving song like"motorcycle" is. my favorite song on the album "see the light shining" is probably the center piece of the album, words can't describe it, must listen. "street fighting gang" is a awesome song as well. this is one of the best heavy rock albums i'v listend to, i espessicaly like pete gills druming techniques on this one, he is a solid time keeper and has some interesting double bass techniques as well. and as always i love paul quinns guitar tone as with any saxon album. awesome disc. . .

SAXON RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.


You can see a complete list of all Saxon discography, or go back to the Saxon tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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