Album: SAXON – Lionheart
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: September 20, 2004
Original Label: Steamhammer
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Lionheart, which was the band’s sixteenth studio album. It is the only studio album featuring drummer Jorg Michael, best known for his years in Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, and Stratovarius. The album was a success for the band, finally charting in the UK again at #22 in the Rock & Metal album charts. It also charted high in Germany at #44 in the official album chart as well as charting in Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, and France. I remember reading about this release in Classic Rock Magazine at the time and it was actually the first Saxon album I ever purchased, although I was aware of the band for many years and knew many classic songs; I just never saw their CDs in stores.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Witchfinder General” – A foot-to-the-floor, fist-to-the-face metal song with Biff screaming his lungs out. This is how to start an album: no intro, no instrumental and no fluff, but a statement of intent. There’s a cool middle section that almost sounds like a gathering of witches cackling and then straight into a couple of killer guitar solos. The lyrics tell the story about Matthew Hopkins, a self-appointed Witchfinder General in the mid 1600’s who started a campaign of terror against defenceless women in the English countryside, accusing them of being witches. This was before what happened in Salem.
“Man and Machine” – A fast and dirty riff and great drumming from Jorg Michael lead this song that’s uptempo but gets a little melodic at the pre chorus but right back into a faster pace and leads into a short but sweet solo. Classic Saxon balls-to-the-wall type song. This song is about the race car driver Donald Campbell, a British speed record breaker who broke eight absolute world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s.
“The Return” – a short intro to the title track.
“Lionheart” – The classic title track that clocks in at almost six minutes. A short intro for about 30 seconds and then kicks in with drums and the rest of the band. A really great song that could have fit on the Crusader album. The lyrics are inspired by a 12th-century King of England, Richard the Lionheart.
“Beyond the Grave” – A short acoustic intro that morphs into a heavy rhythm section and Biff’s almost spoken-word verse into him singing in a normal tone. A darker song both musically and lyrically and some nice melodic style solos in the middle section. The lyrics tell the story of the afterlife and someone trying to reach out to communicate to someone on the other side.
“Justice” – Heavy and faster from the first note with that classic 80s Saxon style but also nice melodic parts leading into the chorus. The lyrics are about standing up against those that are corrupt and could be based on some historical event, but it seems to be a general story that could be in any time period.
“To Live By The Sword” – Another uptempo track that gets right to the point with a cool riff and fast drumming from Michael. The lyrics seem to be about ancient samurai fighting for their shogun or leader.
“Jack Tars” – short instrumental intro.
“English Man ‘O’ War” – Gritty and heavy uptempo classic Saxon metal style with fast blazing guitar solos. Lyrically about the power of the British navy and the history of the warships in battles and the brave crew.
“Searching For Atlantis” – Probably the most melodic song on the album with some great guitar playing. A really good song that adds a little light and shade to offset the uptempo tracks. The lyrics seem to be a general lyric about searching for meaning in life and using the search for the lost city of Atlantis as a comparison.
“Flying on the Edge” – Heavier track that closes the album nicely and is about a true story of a scary plane ride the band was on when the plane had an emergency landing due to bad weather.
RECAP:
Arguably the band’s best album or at least one of the best. I always say Strong Arm is my favourite and that 1980 to 1983 era is untouchable, but this album for me is as good as it gets and is the most consistent album they’ve ever released. Great songs, great production, and the great Jorg Michael’s drumming brought an extra energy to this album.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“Witchfinder General“, “Man and Machine“, “Lionheart“, “Searching for Atlantis“, “English Man ‘O’ War“, “Beyond the Grave“, “Justice“. There are no fillers on this album.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
