Album: SAXON – Into The Labyrinth
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: January 12, 2009
Original Label: Steamhammer
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Into The Labyrinth, which was the band’s eighteenth studio album. The album features the same lineup on back-to-back albums for the first time in many years. The album again charted in the US (independent albums), UK rock/metal album charts, German top albums chart, as well French, Swiss, Swedish, and Dutch charts. Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, it has a great sound that still stands up.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Battalions of Steel” – a six-minute fast-paced opener that takes a little over a minute to get going, but once it does, it’s a good metal anthem. Opening with some keyboard atmosphere-type sounds and then a tolling of a bell and it’s off to the races. It’s based on the Roman armies marching off to war, but it supposedly had a double meaning and could be about Saxon fans.
“Live to Rock” – a good groove and upbeat straight-ahead rock song that wouldn’t be out of place on any of the early 80s albums or the early to mid 90s era. Good guitar playing too. Lyrically just seems to be a basic Saxon anthem about celebrating rock n roll.
“Demon Sweeney Todd” – upbeat, fast-paced rocker. Based on either the 1979 musical or the 2007 movie, the story is about a barber who is a serial killer who exacts his revenge for being wronged himself.
“The Letter” – short intro into the next song.
“Valley of the Kings” – An epic anthemic metal track that’s upbeat but has great melodies and a big chorus. One of my favourite songs on the album. Some great drumming in the middle section that goes into the solos that lifts the song even more. Lyrically, it talks about the pharaohs and Egyptian mythology.
“Slow Lane Blues” – Blues-based rocker with some great guitar playing and a nice change of pace. About driving too fast and breaking the law and the consequences that come with that.
“Crime of Passion” – Heavy and gritty riff-oriented rocker. It seems to be about a destructive relationship where they can’t stay away from each other, but he knows it’s not going to end well. The lyrics are really bad, but I like the music.
“Premonition in D Minor” – short instrumental.
“Voice” – starts slower and is more mid-tempo but is a good track. Biff whispering “wake up” in the middle section before the solo is cool. About being resilient in tough times and having that guiding voice to help get them through and most likely from someone that the narrator cared about that passed away.
“Protect Yourselves” – Heavier riff and almost Sabbath influenced at times. It seems to be about the collapse of society or the end of the world and being prepared for it.
“Hellcat” – Upbeat, faster-paced song with speedy drums and guitar solos. It seems like it could be about a fighter plane in war.
“Come Rock of Ages (The Circle is Complete)” – A cool opening riff, then the drums kick in and it’s a good heavier song but with a good melody and chorus. Seems to be kind of sci-fi inspired and also about astronomy, but it’s not exactly clear.
“Coming Home (Bottleneck Version)” – bonus track that’s a different version of the song on the Killing Ground album.
RECAP:
A really good album that has a handful or so great songs but overall doesn’t quite reach the heights of Unleash the Beast/Lionheart/The Inner Sanctum. The production by Charlie Bauerfeind is really great. I did play this one a lot when it was released and while it’s not quite as good as the above albums I mentioned, it’s still really good.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“Battalions of Steel“, “Live to Rock“, “Valley of the Kings“, “Come Rock of Ages“, “Demon Sweeney Todd“, “Slow Lane Blues“.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
