Here we go with the Fourth release from the UK legends SAXON Denim and Leather opens up with “Princess of the Night” a pretty catchy little number but a little lacking in the grit department I have to say. “Never Surrender” up next kicks in a little harder, with a great driving feel to things. I’d have to go back to “Strong Arm of the Law” (The bands third album) to confirm, but a few songs in I’m feeling this doesn’t have the same grit the previous album did. Thats not to say its bad in anyway, there’s some really catchy songs on this one and it was definitely one of the bands better selling releases.
The album does however contain some really catchy sing alongs like “Play it Loud”. The more I listen to this the more it seems like an album about Heavy Metal. And I guess in the days before Manowar this would have been one of the first to really coin the metal anthemic calls to arms to metalhed’s everywhere. I haven’t analysed the lyrics to this album either but it definitely seems they’re recalling tales of rock n roll success to which the band had become party to, with the release of the last couple of albums. The Song “And the Band Played On” is apparantly a nod to the band Rainbow, and I can definitely hear some very Rainbow-esq nuances in this one. Especially in the riffing and soloing. The long time fan fave “Denim and Leather” is another tribute to their fans and the Heavy Metal lifestyle, which I’m sure the band is still playing to this day.
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