Once upon a time there was a brave and noble King who reined England from 1189 A.D. to 1199 A.D and it was because of his adventurous heart and mighty sword that tales such as Robin Hood and Ivanhoe were born. This fearsome man's name was Richard Plantagenet, also (and mainly) known as King Richard I The Lionheart. 805 years after his reign, there still is a King around to rule this world but this is not just any king we're talking about my dear readers. It's the King of N.W.O.B.H.M, the King that has inspired more than one could ever imagine, a King we grew up with... Saxon!
What is there to be said about one of Heavy Metal's most significant forces? What can a man say about one of the most 'faithful to Heavy Metal' bands still around...and kicking major butt? Who on earth considers himself to be a metalhead and doesn't know songs like 747 (Strangers In The Night), Crusader, Princess Of The Night, Wheels Of Steel (oh my God, I should have mentioned this song first thing), Denim & Leather, And The Bands Played On, Strong Arm Of The Law, Ride Like The Wind etc...I could go on for hours and hours because yeah, they've got one huge yet glorious discography!
So as almost none of their countless albums was left out of Heavy Metal's hall of meaningful releases, and for good reason, it's time for a brand new album, it's time for Lionheart!
After their previous and successful album, Killing Ground(2001), Saxon strike back with another killer album. For the first time in 15 years, the band has produced a Heavy Metal gem in their good old home country, England. Weird? Nah, as if anyone really pays attention to details like that. Especially when the album is an ode written for all the crazy Heavy Metal maniacs out there!
Lionheart has all the ingredients required to make you say holy transsexual cow of Annubis' mother in law! and start banging your head in frenzy mode. Lyrics, vocals, guitars, drums, bass, a passionate feeling, and a great production.
It seems as if Biff (vocals) never ages. I mean, man, his vocals are in top shape! It's all there, from high screams of vengeance to soft and dreamy tones of melancholy. His vocals on the title track of the album are simply unbelievable. On To Live By The Sword his voice is smashing! What an opus he's made out of these songs with his voice! None could ever do his job better than him. Biff's definitely the man under Saxon's shiny armor.
But it's not only Biff who deserves credit. Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt's riffs are superb inspirations! From the nostalgic and melancholic first chords of Beyond The Grave to the riffing that follows after that...From  the summoning soft chords in Jack Tars to the heavy hammering of English Man 'o' War. Or you could simply press the play button on the first track of the album, Witchfynder General and find out for yourselves what I'm talking about; feel some guitar wrath! You're bound to realize that the 'eagle has landed' from the very first second!
Then we have Mr. Jorg Michael sitting behind the drums (x-Stratovarius ...among other bands). Jorg's there, everywhere! He's all over the place (when required) and he's bombing in the right direction under the right production. Your ears of course!
Nibbs Carter's bass fills in just perfectly, never too much or too little...just as much as a Heavy Metal band needs it to!
Saxon for one, is surely a band that has never let me down, ever, thus Lionheart made me more than just throw a smile on my face. Because my dear readers, it seems to be a tough quest nowadays to be able to create a pure Heavy Metal album without changing into something completely different and without sounding the same way you sounded 20 years ago...Never too tough for this band though, not at all. Maybe Biff should send the recipe out to some dozens of bands but then again why spoil something you've achieved on your own?
The time was right, my ears were clear (it happens every once in a while) and Lionheart was near (well actually he's in my CD player right now). I'd suggest...the entire album! Go out there and buy something that's really Heavy Metal and not what eMpTyVision tells you what's 'metal' and what 'not'.
P.S. Only weak point is that I like a few songs an inch less than all the others. If for example the title track has gained 100% of my appreciation, Flying On The Edge has gained 99%...
- To live by the sword, you must die by the sword, a warrior's born to be free, to live by the sword (To Live By The Sword)