Saxon – The Solid Book Of Rock – Boxset Review
The complete latter-day Saxon package!
Lionheart (2004)
Track Listing: Witchfinder General / Man And Machine / The Return / Lionheart / Beyond The Grave / Justice / To Live By The Sword / Jack Tars / English Man O’War / Searching For Atlantis / Flying On The Edge
Bonus Tracks: Lionheart – Studio Rough Mix (see below)
Killing Ground was good. Lionheart was outstanding.
Defiantly English, the expected tales of knights and realms, conquests and crusades were ever-present but this was battle metal for hardened warriors with “Witchfinder General”, “Man And Machine” and “To Live By The Sword” proving absolutely colossal!
Home to some truly heavy tracks, Lionheart‘s crowning glory was Biff’s vocals, the big man exhibiting a range to rival the greats of metal and proving more versatile than ever!
Lionheart was quite simply a magnificent modern metal album and it turned out that Saxon, now in their 4th decade of existence, still had plenty to offer. 9/10
Lionheart – Studio Rough Mix
Track Listing: Witchfinder General / Man And Machine / The Return / Lionheart / Beyond The Grave / Justice / To Live By The Sword / Jack Tars / English Man O’War / Searching For Atlantis / Flying On The Edge / Beyond The Grave (single version)
The value of this bonus disc depends on just how much you like things rough!
The songs are obviously still top-notch marauders of metal but, in truth, we prefer the sheen and the crunch of the production found on the official release.
However, as a curio this is still well worth a spin! 7/10
Ordered mine, and can’t wait for it to arrive. The only disc I already have from the boxset is Inner Sanctum. That album goes to show how great heavy metal music can be overlooked.
You won’t regret it Glen, it’s an outstanding set. Saxon have been ridiculously consistent over the years and this boxset proves how some of the finest metal of the past 2 decades has been overlooked!
Fully agree with this review. An outstanding set from a very very consistent band. ESSENTIAL
Thanks Jimmy, much appreciated! Essential indeed \m/