Album: SAXON – Sacrifice
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: March 1, 2013
Original Label: UDR Music
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Sacrifice, the band’s twentieth studio album. A heavier and more intense album than the previous Call to Arms. The album charted in several countries including the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Scotland, and Sweden. My copy came with a bonus CD of five extra tracks that includes some re-recordings of older tracks like “Forever Free”, and some great acoustic versions of songs like “Requiem (We Will Remember)” and “Frozen Rainbow”.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Procession” – instrumental intro
“Sacrifice” – A powerful and heavy opening tune. After the throwback album, this felt like a “we’re back” statement. Great song. Lyrically about the history of lost civilizations such as the Aztecs or the Mayans.
“Made in Belfast” – Heavy and fast guitars and drumming. Matching parts of the lyrics about steelworkers, specifically ship builders, the music mimics the sounds of hammering of steel and has Celtic parts to tie it in with the history of Northern Ireland.
“Warriors of the Road” – Fast-paced metal anthem inspired by Formula One racing and the high-speed danger of racing in general.
“Guardians of the Tomb” – Uptempo, faster metal track. About the Terracotta Army in Ancient China, which was built to protect the Emperor.
“Stand up and Fight” – Another uptempo track that still has that classic fist in the air classic Saxon metal. Great opening of guitar solos right into fast-paced drums and uptempo the rest of the way. About the difficulties of making it in a rock band. A great anthem.
“Walking the Steel” – Good groove and heavy riff. About the workers who rebuilt NYC after the World Trade Center attacks.
“Night of the Wolf” – A little slower at the beginning and then it gets faster and heavier and more aggressive. About the struggle for survival between man and wolves in the wild as the animals stalk their prey.
“Wheels of Terror” – Opens with heavy and fast riffing and drumming and settles into a good groove, then picks up the pace in the middle with a fast solo. Lyrically about the horrors of war and overwhelming military power causing a path of destruction.
“Standing in a Queue” – Very early 80s Saxon style with that classic NWOBHM sound. Gritty RnR song. Talking about the never-ending waiting we seem to do in our society in every part of our lives.
RECAP:
A heavier and more aggressive album than Call to Arms and maybe the heaviest album of their career. One of my favourite recent Saxon albums and one that really still stands the test of time and I put it up there with Lionheart, Unleash the Beast, and The Inner Sanctum for post-80s Saxon albums.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“Sacrifice“, “Made in Belfast“, “Guardians of the Tomb“, “Night of the Wolf“, “Walking the Steel“, “Wheels of Terror“, and “Warriors of the Road“.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
