Album: SAXON – Metalhead
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: November 1, 1999
Original Label: Steamhammer
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Metalhead, which was the band’s fourteenth studio album. Following up the amazing Unleash the Beast, this follows a similar path, continuing the heavier and very focused metal style. This was the first of two albums with new drummer Fritz Randow, who replaced Nigel Glockler, who had left the band for several years due to health issues. Again, there was no chart success in the US or UK, but again in Germany.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Intro” – short instrumental
“Metalhead” – Heavy and an almost doomy riff and really an awesome metal song. Seems to be about alien abduction and government conspiracies related to aliens.
“Are We Travellers in Time” – another heavy and badass metal song. Exploring the concept of time and how humanity as a whole fits into that.
“Conquistador” – A faster-paced uptempo metal song with fast drumming but melodic choruses. About the sixteenth-century Spanish explorers sailing to the Americas. It covers the journey itself, but also the conquest and downfall of the ancient empire being conquered.
“What Goes Around” – more of a groove-based hard rocker and not as metal as most of the album, but it’s a solid album track. The Lyrics seem to be about a toxic relationship and how you treat people can come back to you.
“Song of Evil” – Back to the heavier and darker musical style and is about someone who causes pain and hurt to others and tortures someone. I can’t find any info on what or who it’s inspired by.
“All Guns Blazing” – uptempo classic Saxon-type metal style that’s a really good song. About standing your ground and not letting the system wear you down.
“Prisoner” – more melodic than most of the album and while it’s not the big AOR 80s style, the chorus does get more melodic while the verses stay heavier and there’s a nice set of solos in the middle. Seems to be about being stuck in a bad relationship and being manipulated and feeling betrayed.
“Piss Off” – an angry, straightforward metal track about negativity and how things seem to go wrong just when you think everything is going right.
“Watching You” – A good opening riff and melody. Heavier and good classic metal and lyrically about video surveillance and the lack of privacy from the government watching everything we do.
“Sea of Life” – At eight minutes long, it’s one of the longest Saxon songs and musically goes from heavy to softer and slower moments and then picks up the pace again. Talking about morality and the destiny of one’s life.
RECAP:
Following the awesome Unleash the Beast two years earlier, this album has a lot of similarities, but maybe not quite as great, but it’s still very good. Going into this review, I was thinking I was very let down by this album after UTB, but after several spins while writing this review, this album is a lot better than I remembered.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“Metalhead“, “Prisoner“, “All Guns Blazing“, “Are We Travellers in Time“, “Sea of Life“, “Song of Evil“.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
