 
NWOBHM legends are still going strong and their
new release “Call to Arms” proves
that they can still produce the best heavy metal
tunes in the world as they always have. This new
release adds another mark to their album tally
bringing it to a whopping total of 19 studio albums!
Previous album “Into the Labyrinth”
was a tremendous return to form after a fairly
disappointing release before it “The Inner
Sanctum”. So is “Call to Arms”
going to be a huge disappointment or a spectacular
piece of work?
It’s definitely a beautiful display of musicianship
right from the very beginning. Opening track “Hammer
of the Gods” is a punch in the face to anyone
who ever though Saxon were anywhere near done;
lively, upbeat, fast paced and Biff Byford’s
vocals are on top form with tremendous range.
Following track “Back in ‘79”
is also another terrific rock and roll track;
much slower pace, extremely catchy chorus, great
gritty guitar work and again Biff’s phenomenal
voice, “Show me your hands, Show me your
Hands, Raise up your hands, Deliver me”
imagine that one at a live show!
One of the best songs on that album has to be
the title track “Call to Arms” ; the
4 and a half minute epic displaying everything
Saxon are capable of as musicians, great guitar
licks and riffs with some fantastic drumming and
lyrical content. They even made an orchestral
version of it and stuck it onto the end of the
album! The atmosphere and depth it gives to it
is something only legends could do, it’s
just something out of this world I’m fully
in love with it.
Then you’ve got the track that was written
for the the Hybrid Theory soundtrack, “When
Doomsday Comes”; now this song is also another
terrific song but it’s got a different feel
to it very intense and eerie which I guess is
for the nature of the film.
An album with such great range in different material
that doesn’t get stale or samey from quick
and heavy like “Afterburner” , bouncy
and fun like “Ballad of the Working Man”
and then the already mentioned mellow songs; such
range of styles is a thing of beauty, musical
artwork if you will.
So in conclusion after a long and vibrant career
with ups and downs when it looked like the band
was on their way out they’ve turned everything
around with a booming release. I have no bad criticism
for this album it’s a masterpiece and everyone
should go listen to it.
5/5
Review by James Webb
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