Album: SAXON – Unleash the Beast
Written By: Wes Haskins
Original Release Date: October 13, 1997
Original Label: CMC International Records
Continuing my way through the Saxon catalogue with Unleash the Beast, which was the band’s thirteenth studio album and was released in 1997. It is their first studio album with Doug Scarratt on guitar and for me started a new era of the band with mostly the same lineup for the next 25 plus years. The album again charted in Germany but not in the US or UK. If memory serves, the US release was on CMC Records and I remember seeing some hype about it in some magazines at the time, most likely Metal Maniacs. It’s a shame it didn’t get more attention because it’s a great album and should be mentioned as a top 5-10 Saxon album.
TRACK BY TRACK:
“Gothic Dreams” – short intro instrumental track
“Unleash the Beast” – heavier album opener type track. Great guitar work and almost like a statement of intent on the new, heavier direction that the band takes on from here on out. Lyrically could be about self-empowerment and facing adversity. It could also be about the band finding their way through the changes in their career.
“Terminal Velocity” – another heavier riff-fueled metal track. It seems to be about the thrill of skydiving or other thrill-seeking activities.
“Circle of Light” – Heavy and uptempo that has a good melody, but still a heavy chorus and some excellent guitar playing. Lyrically about a near-death experience from a major surgery, including an out-of-body experience.
“The Thin Red Line” – a little more melody, but it still rocks and has a great solo and is one of my favs on the album. Talks about soldiers on the frontline but also references the Anglo/Zulu battle of 1879 when the British fought the Zulu Kingdom.
“Ministry of Fools” – very good melody and overall one of the more catchy tracks on the album. Seems to be talking about defiance towards those in power.
“The Preacher” – good heavy riffs and a good groove. A lot of whoa whoa’s in the chorus. A critique of religion, faith and cults.
“Bloodletter” – A heavy uptempo metal track that tells the story of a vampire hiding in the shadows stalking its prey.
“Cut Out the Disease” – A darker and heavier song and full of great solos. Seems to be about a former friend or, most likely, a bandmate who was deceitful. I’m guessing it’s about former guitarist Graham Oliver, who the band fired a year or so earlier.
“Absent Friends” – an introspective ballad and the only breather for an album that’s mostly heavier. Talking about the loss of someone close to you. I’m not sure if it’s specifically about someone or a more generalized lyric about the feelings those have when a close friend or relative passes on.
“All Hell Breaking Loose” – heavy and uptempo and a great way to close a great album. Lyrics could be about Revelations and the end of the world.
RECAP:
A filler-free album for me that’s full of guitars, guitars, and more guitars. Not sure if it was the change in guitarists, adding Doug Scarratt, but whatever it was pushed the band in a heavier and more focused direction.
FAVOURITE SONGS:
“The Thin Red Line“, “Circle of Light“, “Terminal Velocity“, “Cut out the Disease“, “Bloodletter“, “All Hell Breaking Loose“. I could list every song.
Read more of Wes Haskins‘ Saxon reviews here as he surges through the entire discography: Author – Wes Haskins
