SAXON

SAXON
INTO THE LABYRINTH (2009)
320 KBPS

Saxon's commercial heyday was in the early '80s, but the pioneering New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band has been making quality music for over 30 years. Their 18th studio album is Into The Labyrinth.
Saxon alternates between soaring power metal, radio friendly arena rock, and gritter blues based songs. It's a fine line between diversity and dilution, but Saxon has the chops and experience to pull off just about anything.
The best songs on Into The Labyrinth are ones like "Crime Of Passion" that have an edge to them, but also plenty of melody and a memorable chorus. I've always like Biff Byford's voice, and ballads like "Voice" show that he still has power and range in his distinctive pipes.
The album ends with "Coming Home." It's a bluesy steel guitar version of the track that originally appeared on 2001's Killing Ground. Into The Labryinth has a lot of quality songs and is a solid addition to Saxon's extensive discography.

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)