Soulfood
2011
1. Hammer Of The Gods
2. Back In '79
3. Surviving Against The odds
4. Mists Of Avalon
5. Call To Arms
6. Chasing The Bullet
7. Afterburner
8. When Doomsday Comes (Hybrid Theory)
9. No Rest For The Wicked
10. Ballad Of The Working Man
11. Call To Arms (Orchestral Version)
Saxon are just a classic and a band which I have loved for some time. They haven't always delivered a classic, but they have given metalheads a number of them through their career and have found new life starting around their '97 release Unleash The Beast. That too is some time ago at this point, but more recently Into The Labyrinth and The Inner Sanctum had much to offer. With an album as strong as Into The Labyrinth proceeding this one, my expectations were high.
Unfortunately, those expectations are ultimately not met with Call To Arms. The bulk of this album seems to kind of regress the band. I guess you could call this a back to their roots sort of album, but it just doesn't seem a very successful one to me. As I listen to Call To Arms I hear a whole lot of early rock/proto-metal influence and there's nothing inherently wrong with that either. I mean, this is a band who sprung out of the NWOBHM, had that influence, and delivered with success in their earlier days. The problem is a lot of this just seems very typical and maybe they just aren't that band anymore.
The best Call To Arms can seem to muster for me is some more epic/power moments, but those aren't as strong and memorable as the last album. On this release, Hammer Of The Gods and The Mists Of Avalons epic deliveries are pretty solid and make them highlights, but I can't help thinking that on Into The Labyrinth these wouldn't meet the standards set by Battalions Of Steel or Valley Of The Kings. Judged on their own merit these are pretty good. They just aren't as good as the band is capable of doing.
All in all, I'd chalk this one up to a decent, but not spectacular songwriting session. Most bands don't hit em out of the park on every go and this isn't a bad album. It just isn't one that compares to the last and that has to be at least somewhat of a disappointment. If you're a hardcore Saxon fan you'll likely still get this and find some good moments. Just don't expect a classic and you'll be fine.
Highlights: Hammer Of The Gods, Mists Of Avalon, Call To Arms
Rating - 3.5/5
2. Back In '79
3. Surviving Against The odds
4. Mists Of Avalon
5. Call To Arms
6. Chasing The Bullet
7. Afterburner
8. When Doomsday Comes (Hybrid Theory)
9. No Rest For The Wicked
10. Ballad Of The Working Man
11. Call To Arms (Orchestral Version)
Saxon are just a classic and a band which I have loved for some time. They haven't always delivered a classic, but they have given metalheads a number of them through their career and have found new life starting around their '97 release Unleash The Beast. That too is some time ago at this point, but more recently Into The Labyrinth and The Inner Sanctum had much to offer. With an album as strong as Into The Labyrinth proceeding this one, my expectations were high.
Unfortunately, those expectations are ultimately not met with Call To Arms. The bulk of this album seems to kind of regress the band. I guess you could call this a back to their roots sort of album, but it just doesn't seem a very successful one to me. As I listen to Call To Arms I hear a whole lot of early rock/proto-metal influence and there's nothing inherently wrong with that either. I mean, this is a band who sprung out of the NWOBHM, had that influence, and delivered with success in their earlier days. The problem is a lot of this just seems very typical and maybe they just aren't that band anymore.
The best Call To Arms can seem to muster for me is some more epic/power moments, but those aren't as strong and memorable as the last album. On this release, Hammer Of The Gods and The Mists Of Avalons epic deliveries are pretty solid and make them highlights, but I can't help thinking that on Into The Labyrinth these wouldn't meet the standards set by Battalions Of Steel or Valley Of The Kings. Judged on their own merit these are pretty good. They just aren't as good as the band is capable of doing.
All in all, I'd chalk this one up to a decent, but not spectacular songwriting session. Most bands don't hit em out of the park on every go and this isn't a bad album. It just isn't one that compares to the last and that has to be at least somewhat of a disappointment. If you're a hardcore Saxon fan you'll likely still get this and find some good moments. Just don't expect a classic and you'll be fine.
Highlights: Hammer Of The Gods, Mists Of Avalon, Call To Arms
Rating - 3.5/5
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