As the undisputed leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the British legends Saxon have weathered the ebbs and flow of the heavy music scene for decades.  During this time there have been musical trends and fads that have come and gone, but to their credit, Saxon have consistently delivered their trademark brand of metal to sold out audiences the world over.  While they may not be household names, especially in America, they have a sound that is unmistakable. As soon as one of their songs graces your ears, instantly you know what you’re going to get: Pure, unmistakable metal.  

To celebrate their 40th anniversary of giving Metal fans what they want, the band has released The Eagle Has Landed 40 (Live).  This 3-CD set is a collection of songs, all performed live, that span their entire career and include the fist-pumping classics “Denim and Leather” and “Crusader”, to their most recent powerhouses “Predator”, Thunderbolt” and “Battering Ram”.  They also added some lesser known gems such as “Atilla the Hun", the barnburner “Machine Gun”, and the unrelenting “Chasing the Bullet”. Sprinkle in a couple of Motorhead covers and you have quite a package.

Saxon has long been a group that often mixes up their live sets from time to time to offer variety and keep things fresh.  With their catalog of 23 studio albums there are plenty of songs to choose from. All the songs here were recorded during various live shows from 2007 through 2018 which allowed for some consistency in the sound.  As I listened, I was thoroughly overwhelmed and impressed as one song made its way to the next. This history-lesson of an album is one that every fan of heavy music should not be without. 

I’ve been lucky enough to have seen these pioneers multiple times over the years and they have yet to disappoint.  This band might be the hardest working band in metal and are proud of what they do. In concert, they are always upbeat, excited, and carry a personable demeanor each night, all the while executing their brand of music with such astonishing ease.  It’s no surprise that the band has managed to capture this vibe on this collection.  

Take a ride through metal history and reacquaint yourself with the Heavy Metal legends Saxon.   You just might find they are as fresh today as they ever were.  

As always, rock on my friends!     Hunnypot Approved!     Overall Rating:  9.0 out of 10

Artist:  Saxon   LP: The Eagle Has Landed 40 (Live),   Release Date: Aug 2nd, 2019,  Label:  Silver Lining Music