Album: SAXON – Killing Ground
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: September 24, 2001
Original Label: Steamhammer
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Killing Ground, which was the band’s fifteenth studio album. This was the last of two albums to feature drummer Fritz Randow, who left the band after this. The album continued to chart well in Germany but also charted in France. The musical style continued the momentum that started with Unleash the Beast four years earlier. A dig-pack version of the album featured a bonus disc of 8 re-recorded versions of 80s Saxon classics that were eventually released as Heavy Metal Thunder a few years later.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Intro” – short instrumental.
“Killing Ground” – a driving uptempo metal anthem that’s a great way to start an album and makes me wonder what the point of the “intro” is since it serves no purpose. Lyrically about the crusades but also talking about the brotherhood of warriors fighting for a cause.
“The Court of the Crimson King” – A cover of the King Crimson classic that adds more guitars and makes it more metal and it’s not quite as long. The song is supposedly about oppressors and manipulators such as Government and societal control. Honestly, I’m aware of the original, but it’s not a song I’ve heard much. This is a good cover, but I always wonder if a cover is necessary unless it’s a bonus track.
“Coming Home” – A bluesy 70s early Saxon boogie style rocker that would fit well on the first few albums. About the band touring and being away from loved ones and being able to reunite after being on the road.
“Hell Freezes Over” – A solid album track with a little more melody and not a balls-to-the-wall rocker like much of the album. About overcoming adversity and not surrendering when times are tough.
“Dragon’s Lair” – Heavy and uptempo and feels like full-on 90s Euro power metal both musically and lyrically. Fast-paced metal with Biff screaming his lungs out. Nothing deep here, just a fantasy-based lyric about a quest to find a dragon. Very Dungeons & Dragons or Hobbit/Lord of the Rings type stuff.
“You Don’t Know What You’ve Got” – A decent groove-based hard rock song, but the chorus is repeated too many times and overall it’s just an average song for me. Seems to be about someone who went through a bad relationship with a deceitful partner and pointing out that the other person doesn’t know what they have.
“Deeds of Glory” – A fast-paced riff and uptempo drumming drive this track along. The lyrics seem to be a tribute to fallen heroes and historic battles of the past and honouring those that sacrificed their lives for the future.
“Running for the Border” – A good rocker that has a good riff and is about border crossings such as US/Mexico and those adventures over the years for the band with issues from both sides and being bribed to be able to go back. It seems to be just a fun fictional story but probably has some truth behind it.
“Shadows on the Wall” – a darker and atmospheric track that is slower, then gets heavier. Telling the story of the invention and use of the Atomic bomb and how horrific it was.
“Rock is our Life” – A good uptempo song to close the album. Nothing fancy but just a solid Saxon-style metal song that’s about solidarity in the metal scene. An anthem for fans of heavy metal.
RECAP:
Another really solid Saxon album. Not as great as UTB but still very good and there are a lot of good songs and only a couple of fillers.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“Killing Ground“, “Coming Home“, “Dragons Lair“, “Rock is our Life“, “Shadows on the Wall“, “Deeds of Glory“.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
