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Saxon - Lionheart Audio CD

A fair review of the Saxon "Lionheart" 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: Lionheart
Rating:
Release Date: 2004-09-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Witchfinder General 2: Man And Machine 3: The Return 4: Lionheart 5: Beyond The Grave 6: Justice 7: To Live By The Sword 8: Jack Tars 9: English Man�o`War 10: Searching For Atlantis 11: Flying On The Edge

A mixed bag


None of it is "bad", but as my review heading says, it's a mixed bag. After reading glowing reviews and Biff Byford enthusing "Lionheart is our most powerful album yet", I have to say that I was a tad disappointed when I heard it. For me there's only one great song in Beyond The Grave, which combines a rather unusual spine tingling ethereal guitar intro with more familiar heavy riffing. I for one hope that this is one of the songs that people will remember Saxon by.

There's some decent stuff also here also in the aggressive Witchfinder General, slightly melancholic Lionheart and the rousing, epic Searching For Atlantis. The rest though didn't do much for me, and it pains me to say that as "cool" as the subject English Man o' War is, the main riff just sounds like random notes strung together. Die By The Sword is also a rehash of a song from 1988's Destiny album, albeit somewhat better.

Of note too, I have to admit that the cover design is very striking and memorable, and maybe swayed me to buy Lionheart in favour of another album I had my eye on! Unfortunately most the music didn't strike me as being quite as memorable as the album cover.

Production is good, with guitar and drums sounding clear and powerful. No complaints there.

Worth buying if you're already a fan, but , Beyond The Grave aside I don't think this album is likely to make anyone a die hard fan of the band.


Excellent!
I'm not a die hard fan of Saxon, just got 3 of their albums, linoheart being one of them, all I can say is that this record totally blows my mind away! I think saxon is one of the few bands that remain true to their sound and roots, this cd proves that! (i have dogs of war and the last effort inner sanctum), my favorite tune off lionheart is beyond the grave, but all the tracks are non-let-down! Great lyrics, sometines one can think lyrics are not so important, but in this case they are just great, and along with the music it makes this album a must have! So buy it and enjoy it!.


One of Saxon's toughest
Lemmy Kilmister is an acknowledged expert on war history, Iron Maiden's work is almost all historical in nature, and Biff Byford of Saxon puts his two cents worth in on "Lionheart". You gotta hand it to the Brits - they love their history.
One immediately hears a resemblence to Iron Maiden, particulary "Dance of Death", but where the Maidens tend to border on the pompous with their super long tunes and Bruce Dickinson's operatic vocals, Saxon wisely keeps the arrangements more metallic and tougher, blending the musicianship with real honest-to-goodness headbanging riffs worthy of Priest in their heyday with a generous helping of thrash to take it up another notch.
The title track is the high water mark, with lush keyboards that make the song breathe without wussing out. "Witchfinder General" will also induce concussions if you can find something hard enough to whap your skull against, or in the case of this middle-aged metal fuddy-duddy, throw your back out and put you in traction for trying to "jam" like you did 25 years ago. Oh well, with age comes experience, and with my guitarist background, I know great metal when I hear it, like this disc, and horrible, like Metallica's "St. Anger". It's refreshing to have lyrics that deal with intelligent subjects, rather than the usual crop of self-pity most American bands put out. Probably because they don't know enough to write about anything else.


Not amateurish, but not AMAZING
They are pros, and you can hear it. Sorry but these guys rock. I wouldn't call it a classic must own album, but if you like an extended collection, you won't go wrong picking this one up.


A really good CD for any Fan of NWOBHM..
Biff sounds great. I liked the songs on this CD and I grew up buying their LPs. . . check it out.


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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