For the life of me, I’m not sure of the first time that I heard Saxon.  I’m sure I’d read about them in Hit Parader or Circus magazine, but I can’t recall a specific moment where I’d actually heard a song by them.  I think the first song I’d actually heard was “Just Let Me Rock” from their Crusader LP back in 1984 but I’m not positive.  At any rate, once I heard something from them I definitely had to pick up an album.  I believe Crusader was the first purchase and sometime thereafter I grabbed their first live platter, The Eagle Has Landed.

A lot of you reading this are probably thinking…  WHO????  Yeah, Saxon certainly had ZERO radio play and they definitely were not MTV darlings, although you could catch a video here or there in the wee morning hours on MTV (take a look at pics of these guys, they certainly weren’t turning ladies’ heads).  But in order to find the good shit out there you had to look and seek out recommendations from fellow hard rock/heavy metal heads, and early Saxon was prime material.  And don’t just take my word for it; none other than NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) fan and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich can vouch for the greatness that is Saxon.

The Eagle Has Landed was cut live and released around 1981/1982 and features ten early Saxon classics in front of a rabid European crowd.  The disc roars out of the gate with a manic version of “Motorcycle Man” and doesn’t let up, all “heads down and let ‘er rip” heavy metal fury that’s somewhat of a cross between AC/DC, Motorhead, and maybe a touch of heavier Status Quo or Slade.  Lead singer Biff Byford, although not of classic singing voice, is a great frontman and gives 110% throughout this disc, belting everything out in fine fervor and whipping the crowd into a frenzy.  The guitar tag team of Paul Quinn and Graham Oliver are a solid if not flashy duo, playing for the song and avoiding guitar wankery and histrionics but with ballsy tones and fine riffery.  And bassman Steve Dawson provides simple but thumping basslines likely done with fist shaking fury (supposedly Steve was a model for Harry Shearer’s character in the classic This Is Spinal Tap!).

Ahhh, but saving the best player for last 🙂  Nigel Glockler had just recently replaced former sticksman Pete Gill, who had to leave the band due to a hand injury, and makes his Saxon recording debut with this album.  Glockler is the engine on this album, his playing totally in the pocket and forming the foundation that allows the rest of the band to kick these songs into high gear.  The dude swings with muscular might, throwing in the occasional cool drum fills throughout the song to add that extra bit of flair.  Check out the speedy “20,000 Feet”, the rock of “Wheels Of Steel”, or how he pushes the rhythm through the classic  “(747) Strangers In The Night”.  Great stuff indeed.

I hadn’t listened to this disc in a while and thought I’d throw it on to compile this review and I must say it still holds up very well.  Saxon is still around and musically is a bit of a different animal, but this disc captures the band in their rawer early days and they put on quite the spirited performance.  There is not a duff track to be found here, so if you like meat and potatoes riff rock this will suit you well.  You can’t tell me your head won’t be banging or your feet a tappin’ when you hear “Wheels Of Steel”!