SAXON - review added 16th January 2009
Album Review: Into The Labyrinth (2009)
For fans of: heavy metal... and a back on form band getting even more back on form
From the opening symphonic bellows of 'Battalions Of Steel' it's clear Saxon have moved their game on with Into The Labyrinth. You won't find any playing-it-safe, there is no rehashing what they've done before. This is a band who don't give a toss what people think and are making the heaviest, fastest, gnarliest album they can. The fact it's brilliant is a wonderful, wonderful byproduct.
Biff Byford sounds like he's got a wolverine up his butt on most of the tracks. There's an urgency to his voice that captivates, helped in no small part by the unbridled guitar and drum assault. He has arguably never sounded better, and the character he brings to the music is immeasurable.
Style wise this is in a different league to Saxon of old. You get thrash, best illustrated by 'Demon Sweeney Todd', the groove metal majesty of 'Crime Of Passion', and chugging balls-out heavy metal on 'Protect Yourselves'. Everything is, for want of a better description, 'Saxon-ised', but the reference points are clear and brilliantly used.
'Slow Lane Blues' is so funky you expect Glenn Hughes to turn up and join in. 'Coming Home' sounds like an escapee from a blues bar somewhere in the deep south. Every song offers something new, yet the sound flows from track to track like ice on Teflon.
Where The Inner Sanctum played it safe, Into The Labyrinth sticks its neck out and tries loads of new sounds and ideas. This is still Saxon, but not as you know them.
Check out... Biff's voice. He sounds fantastic.
Track List:
1. Battalions Of Steel
2. Live To Rock
3. Demon Sweeney Todd
4. The Letter
5. Valley Of The Kings
6. Slow Lane Blues
7. Crime Of Passion
8. Premonition in D Minor
9. Voice
10. Protect Yourselves
11. Hellcat
12. Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)
13. Coming Home (Bottleneck Version)
Label: SPV Records
Artist's websites: Saxon
