Saxon concluded their 90s catalogue in robust fashion with the aptly-titled Metalhead. It continued the dark, heavy vein of 1997’s Unleash The Beast but with a vigour and confidence bolstered by a traditional metal renaissance in Europe.
The crushing metal chugs and ominous tones of tracks like Metalhead and Are We Travellers In Time have a contemporary edge but also a technicality to the riffage that bulldozers away the boozier, sprightlier charm of the band’s early days. But Saxon’s spirit and songcraft remains. Even at its heaviest, the album sports durable melodies and there’s a welcome lighter touch and variety on songs like the bouncy Prisoner, grooving What Goes Around and the proggy Sea Of Life. It’s not all gleaming and modern: the Saxon traditions of headbanging and tales of olde are upheld in the thrilling All Guns Blazing and the rousing Conquistador.
Some inevitable clunkers (Piss Off and the forgettable Watching You) and a sense of solid proficiency prevent it ranking alongside inspired classics like Power & The Glory. But with Metalhead Saxon made their strongest, timeliest statement of the decade. I’ll bang my head to that.
*Worth pointing out that Nigel Glockler had left (again) due to injury, replaced by Fritz Randow. But you won’t notice the difference.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
I missed this album back then but that track sounds pretty good. Not exactly “Denim and Leather” but a good track and definitely Saxon.
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Yeah it’s a different kind of band by this point. Great stuff and I love it for what it is… but the early albums are just the real deal.
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80’s Saxon I know…90’s…not so much. Sounds like a good one though.
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It is. Actually Saxon maybe handled the 90s a bit better than a lot of other oldies metal bands. Stuck to what they know.
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Never even knew this was out until I read your review! I’m like John. Know the 80’s stuff for the most part but the 90’s and beyond is a different story.
Your’re a true fan Sir!
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Yep some good stuff from 90s Saxon. They’re getting into a groove on this. Old stuff is still the best though.
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I’m slowly chipping away at there 80’s stuff on vinyl Scott.
Wheels of Steel/ Denim and Leather/Power and the Glory/Eagle Has Landed now.
I grab em as I come across them.
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There’s a good lad.
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And check out Paul Quinn there… not looked that cool since the Wheels of Steel back cover. The Ann Wilson wig is gone!
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hahaha…I thought it was Mean Gene Simmons Animalize wig he was sporting all those years!
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No! Way better than that haha
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Wow, I never even knew this existed. Is it their worst LP cover?
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If you were German you’d probably have been all over it. I’ll have a check…
…
… yes I think it is.
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I hear it forms a major part of German school curriculums to this very day.
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It’s mandatory. And then you can decide if you want to progress to Gamma Ray or Blind Guardian classes.
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Taught by UDO of course!
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Naturally.
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I used to hate when we had double Gamma Ray on a Friday afternoon.
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Oh man, after waiting all these years, there’s the light at the end of the tunnel! The next one was my first Saxon. I saw them twice on the tour for it. Metalhead and Conquistador from this one were fantastic live, with the latter sporting a drum solo and extended dip into Heavy Metal Thunder in the middle.
As for the album cover competition though, I’d venture that the next one gives this one good competition for bad.
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Yes you might be right. I was giving Killing Ground a pass cause its kinda simple but… it looks more like an unofficial Saxon album than an actual Saxon album.
Also, there’s one dip into the past before we get to that one so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.
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I thought I had all the studio albums, but I don’t have this! I’ve never seen it! What an awesomely bad cover!
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Getting a lot of “never seen this” reactions for this one! Wasn’t expecting that… If you like other modern ones then this is worth a listen. Just give it time, it’s a grower.
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Aye, I checked my Saxon stuff last night and I don’t have this one. Never seen it. Ever. That’s the kinda great shitty cover you just don’t forget.
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I like that symbol of approval – I’ll raise my glass to that, I’ll bang my head to that!
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Probably spill some drops if you try both at the same time though.
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The more I hear from this band, the more I like. Thanks for putting this one on my radar!
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Nae bother. Seems like a lot of people missed this one! I think you’d enjoy it.
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Great post, I’ve never heard of these metal bands! I will have to give them a listen, for sure!
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Please do! And thanks for reading.
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I guess I have heard Saxon and didn’t realize it! This kind of metal is probably my fav next to progressive, good stuff!
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