Saxon are one of My Favourite Bands! I frequently listen to their music, and have been a fan of theirs since at least 2012. For those not in the know: Saxon are an English Heavy Metal band.
Formed in Barnsley in 1975, Saxon were one of the great standard bearers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, which is often simply known as ‘NWOBHM’. The band was originally formed by the merger of two other bands to form a group called ‘Son of a Bitch’, with the line-up consisting of vocalist Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, John Walker, and Steve Dawson. The band would later change it’s name to Saxon, after the French record label Carrere Records, signed them, and informed them that there was no way they would get any radio airplay with the name ‘Son of a Bitch’. Over the years since, the line-up has changed frequently, with only Byford and Quinn remaining from the original line-up. In the late 90’s, there was even a dispute over the band’s name, as former members Oliver and Dawson, attempted to start another band also called Saxon, which led to a high court ruling in favour of Byford’s group.
Saxon’s styles and themes cover a wide range of topics and genres. Some songs carry themes on medievel history, whilst others on more contemporary topics, such as motorbikes, steam trains, jet planes, and “fighter pilots being on drugs“.
Over the course of their nearly 50 year career, they have achieved eight UK Top 40 albums, which include four in the Top 10, and two in the Top 5. They also had several hit singles on the UK singles chart, and have experienced success in other countries; including the United States, Japan, and all over Europe. To date they have sold over 23 million records, and continue to tour regularly. They are also one of the few bands still performing today to have performed at the innaugural Monsters of Rock festival in 1980 (and may also hold the record for most appearances at Download Festival too). And it’s not just success in the album or international scenes either. Saxon has often been cited as a major influence/inspiration for many more successful Metal Bands, particularly in America. Such bands include Mötley Crüe, Megadeth, Pantera, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Metallica, and many others.
For me personally, I was first introduced to Saxon by a friend, and then briefly in a BBC documentary called Heavy Metal Britannia, and then rather gently over the next couple of years I discoved more and more of their music, until one month in 2012, when I listened to nothing other than Saxon. And since then, they have remained one of my all time favourite bands.
So, as it’s been over ten years now since the last time I posted a list of my favourite songs by Saxon, I thought it was about time, to go back, and do an updated list, on my new current blog. Now, as per usual, there are many songs which I can’t include within a Top 5. But just so I can give those other gloriuous pieces a quick mention, here are the others worthy of a mention:
Never Surrender, Denim and Leather, Heavy Metal Thunder, 747 (Strangers in the Night), Wheels of Steel, Hell, Fire and Damnation, and Battering Ram.
And so, without further ado, here are My Top 5 Favourite Songs by Saxon; Enjoy!
5. Crusader – Crusader is such an easy, and gentle song, from a band who carry a heavy, and often fast, attitude driven sound. It’s slow simplicity though is what draws you in, with that nice tranquil trickle acoustic opening. And then, just before it starts to pick up, we get that fantastic voice over asking; “Who Dares Battle the Saracen?!”, which just sounds really cool. The song from there can feel like a slow plod along, but it’s not a real headbanger, and that’s on purpose. It’s just meant to start the show, nice and easy, not to drain you of your energy before the main event!
4. Unleash The Beast – Unlike Crusader above, Unleash The Beast’s opening is not meant to be calm or relaxing, it’s meant to be tense, so that when it begins, you are ready, not relaxed. Unleash The Beast has a nice fast paced heavy riff, which is so easy to hear, almost like the band are telling you what rate your heart speed needs to be. The lyrics are very gothic, and almost tell a story, but not a story with a beginning or an end, but one of what might come if you unleash the beast within. But before the unleashing, the song likes to keep up the tension before delivering the chorus line, which is pretty neat!
3. And the Bands Played On – Quite a coll backstory to this song, as it’s the band recounting their experience from the innaugural Monsters of Rock concert in 1980, highlighting what is a memorable experience for the band. It’s a nice slow, but still heavy sounding song, which keeps up it’s pace and tone throughout. But every now and then, halfway through each verse section, there’s this uplifting sound, like the guitars are getting clearer, suggesting a key change, which is a very cool device, giving the sound that extra little flavour of taste!
2. Battalions of Steel – This is a very recent discovery for me, but one that I instantly fell in love with. The song is almost like a battle cry, and charge of a cavalry battalion, both delivered at the same time. Almost like a national anthem for a medievel heavy metal nation. It carries this high light level of energy, that grabs you by the throat, and drags you along for the ride; and doesn’t let go, until you are proudly joining the charge, and wailing out that same glorious battle cry!
1. Princess of the Night – Why aren’t there more Heavy Metal songs about Steam Trains? This song proves there should be more of them, it’s a logically perfect fit. Here we have a song about the LMS Princess Royal Class, and it’s a song that I absolutely love. It has a great opening riff, but likes to switch things up, by featuring not one but two epic solos. The song is as fast, and as powerful as a mighty steam train, and really packs a punch with some rather catchy and memorable lyrics too, lyrics you won’t be forgetting in a hurry. And all the while, the song is carried by this amazing, adrenaline packed tune, which leaves you begging for more, wishing that this epic piece will never end!
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