SAXON - The Inner Sanctum
March 8, 2007, 17 years ago
(SPV)
Of all the old-timers still touring and releasing albums, in my book, Saxon are really one of a very small handful to care about each new record. For most, it’s just an excuse to trot out the old setlist, but these Brits have actually released some of their strongest platters in the recent past (Metalhead, Lionheart and now, add this ten song effort). Pretty mellow start, as ‘State Of Grace’ opens with Gregorian chant, before launching into mid-tempo Saxon territory. ‘Need For Speed’ and ‘Let Me Feel Your Power’ are appropriately titled racers, the former coming off as the more fine-tuned machine. ‘Red Star Falling’ is another slow-paced historical epic, dealing with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the resulting freedom for millions of people. A chugging ‘I’ve Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)’ has a bit too much Americanized ‘80s sentiment for my taste (good guitar riffs here and throughout the album, very up front in the mix), while the single, ‘If I Were You’ is easily the most lackadaisical tune on Inner Sanctum. ‘Going Nowhere Fast’ and ‘Ashes To Ashes’ are decent if unspectacular tracks tucked away towards the end of the platter, before ending with a another strong time capsule piece, ‘Atila The Hun’ (sic), preceded by the short instrumental intro ‘Empire Rising’. Can’t wait for the Wacken headlining appearance (what is it, the fourth in about seven years?).
