SAXON - Into The Labyrinth
December 23, 2008, 16 years ago
(SPV)
Is there anybody out there, reading BW&BK; or scanning the website, who doesn't know what Saxon are about? If so, shame on you, find out immediately or stop (erroneously) calling yourself a metalhead! Here are ten new songs plus a 42 second spoken word intro to the grandiose, orchestrated ‘Valley Of The Kings’, a 40 second instrumental and a bluesy, acoustic guitar/tambourine rendition of ‘Coming Home (Bottleneck Version)’, originally found on Killing Ground. Didn’t really like first single ‘Live To Rock’ hearing it onstage and not any better here, too reminiscent of the string of late 80s albums (definitely a low point in Saxon history). However, like the most recent string of four albums, Into The Labyrinth is built on hard rock tracks, albeit more subdued. There’s still rousing metallic numbers, like the opening ‘Battalions Of Steel’, the Broadway-inspired ‘Demon Sweeney Todd’, a guitar driven ‘Hellcat’ and ‘Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)’, but elsewhere, ‘Voice’ flaunts a softer, power ballad style and ‘Slow Lane Blues’ is accurately named. In addition to the jewel box, a limited edition will be available with a DVD of tour footage, a couple of live songs and the now requisite “making of” featurette.
