Metal Sludge Gossip Board

One of those rare bands where people like their latest material just as much or even more than the classic stuff.

Even though I was a fan bitd, I cant really do it. Each one was a couple good songs and lots of filler.

For me

1. The Eagle has landed
2. Innocence is no excuse
3. The other ones before Crusader
4. Everything else
5. Crusader

EXCELLENT:

Wheels of Steel
Strong Arm of the Law
Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Innocence Is No Excuse
Lionheart
The Inner Sanctum
Battering Ram

GOOD:

Unleash the Beast
Metalhead
Killing Ground
Into the Labyrinth
Call to Arms
Sacrifice
Thunderbolt
Carpe Diem

SORT OF MEH

Saxon
Crusader
Rock the Nations
Destiny
Solid Ball of Rock
Forever Free
Dogs of War

I have not listened to "Hell, Fire and Damnation", yet.

inextrem wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 9:18 pm EXCELLENT:

Wheels of Steel
Strong Arm of the Law
Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Innocence Is No Excuse
Lionheart
The Inner Sanctum
Battering Ram

GOOD:

Unleash the Beast
Metalhead
Killing Ground
Into the Labyrinth
Call to Arms
Sacrifice
Thunderbolt
Carpe Diem

SORT OF MEH

Saxon
Crusader
Rock the Nations
Destiny
Solid Ball of Rock
Forever Free
Dogs of War

I have not listened to "Hell, Fire and Damnation", yet.

This pretty much nails it.

I'd put Hell, Fire and Damnation somewhere between Good and Excellent on this list, though I probably have some recency bias. It's a damn good album though. I think you'll like it based on where you ranked Battering Ram, Carpe Diem, Thunderbolt, etc.

Lionheart was the record where I remember thinking "shit, these guys aren't done yet by a mile!" and that was 21 years ago...and everything they've released since has been just as strong or stronger.

inextrem wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 9:18 pm EXCELLENT:

Wheels of Steel
Strong Arm of the Law
Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Innocence Is No Excuse
Lionheart
The Inner Sanctum
Battering Ram

GOOD:

Unleash the Beast
Metalhead
Killing Ground
Into the Labyrinth
Call to Arms
Sacrifice
Thunderbolt
Carpe Diem

SORT OF MEH

Saxon
Crusader
Rock the Nations
Destiny
Solid Ball of Rock
Forever Free
Dogs of War

I have not listened to "Hell, Fire and Damnation", yet.

Agree

I actually like the newer Saxon stuff more than the classics.

1. Battering Ram
2. Denim & Leather
3. Thunderbolt
4. Unleash the Beast
5. Call to Arms
6. Hell, Fire, and Damnation
7. Carpe Diem
8. Sacrifice
9. Lionheart
10. Into the Labyrinth
11. Solid Ball of Rock
12. Power & the Glory
13. Forever Free
14. Inner Sanctum
15. Killing Ground
16. Metalhead
17. Strong Arm of the Law
18. Wheels of Steel

Everything else is crap (especially Innocence is No Excuse and Crusader)

Unleash the Beast
The Inner Sanctum
Into the Labyrinth
Killing Ground
Lionheart
Battering Ram
Call to Arms
Sacrifice
Metalhead
Wheels of Steel
Strong Arm of the Law
Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Crusader
Carpe Diem
Thunderbolt
Saxon
Rock the Nations
Destiny
Solid Ball of Rock
Forever Free
Dogs of War

TheSurgeon wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 1:09 pm I actually like the newer Saxon stuff more than the classics.

1. Battering Ram
2. Denim & Leather
3. Thunderbolt
4. Unleash the Beast
5. Call to Arms
6. Hell, Fire, and Damnation
7. Carpe Diem
8. Sacrifice
9. Lionheart
10. Into the Labyrinth
11. Solid Ball of Rock
12. Power & the Glory
13. Forever Free
14. Inner Sanctum
15. Killing Ground
16. Metalhead
17. Strong Arm of the Law
18. Wheels of Steel

Everything else is crap (especially Innocence is No Excuse and Crusader)

Cant see how D&L can be #2 and SAOTL and WoS can be dead last.

It would be like someone loving Defenders of the Faith but hating Screaming for Vengeance. Or Loving Black Sabbath Vol4 but hating Master of Reality.

HueyRamone wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 8:04 pm
Cant see how D&L can be #2 and SAOTL and WoS can be dead last.

It would be like someone loving Defenders of the Faith but hating Screaming for Vengeance. Or Loving Black Sabbath Vol4 but hating Master of Reality.

I love Vol 4 and think Master is good but the weakest Sabbath album before Sabotage. I also think SAOTL blows but it's more their Ram It Down than Defenders.

I also love Mercyful's Melissa but DBTO is kinda meh.

Not as big a Saxon fan as some others here but I'll play.
The great ones do stand out, and maybe I'm too generous with some of the good ones.


GREAT:

Innocence Is No Excuse
Destiny
Denim and Leather
Power & the Glory
Forever Free
Dogs of War
Wheels of Steel

GOOD:

Unleash the Beast
Lionheart
Battering Ram
Metalhead
Killing Ground
Thunderbolt
Hell, Fire and Damnation

SORT OF MEH
Into the Labyrinth
The Inner Sanctum
Call to Arms
Sacrifice
Strong Arm of the Law
Rock the Nations
Solid Ball of Rock

RUBBISH
Saxon
Crusader (Title track and Sailing to America are great though)
Carpe Diem

[/quote]

Any list that does not have Power and the Glory at #1 and/or has Innocent is No Excuse as "Great" is not credible.

veritas wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 3:39 am Any list that does not have Power and the Glory at #1 and/or has Innocent is No Excuse as "Great" is not credible.

Innocence IS great. Feels good to be on the side of the Sludge consensus for once.

HueyRamone wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 8:04 pm

TheSurgeon wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 1:09 pm I actually like the newer Saxon stuff more than the classics.

1. Battering Ram
2. Denim & Leather
3. Thunderbolt
4. Unleash the Beast
5. Call to Arms
6. Hell, Fire, and Damnation
7. Carpe Diem
8. Sacrifice
9. Lionheart
10. Into the Labyrinth
11. Solid Ball of Rock
12. Power & the Glory
13. Forever Free
14. Inner Sanctum
15. Killing Ground
16. Metalhead
17. Strong Arm of the Law
18. Wheels of Steel

Everything else is crap (especially Innocence is No Excuse and Crusader)

Cant see how D&L can be #2 and SAOTL and WoS can be dead last.

It would be like someone loving Defenders of the Faith but hating Screaming for Vengeance. Or Loving Black Sabbath Vol4 but hating Master of Reality.

Except I don’t hate either of those. I like the title tracks of both quite a bit. The ones I “hate” (would never listen to ever again) are the ones not on the list (as I noted).

It appears Saxon are one of those bands where there was a big jump in quality from the debut album to their sophomore release.

pieceofme wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 1:09 pm It appears Saxon are one of those bands but there was a big jump in quality from the debut album to their sophomore release.

Yeah, they pulled a Priest.

Love_Industry wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 4:21 am

veritas wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 3:39 am Any list that does not have Power and the Glory at #1 and/or has Innocent is No Excuse as "Great" is not credible.

Innocence IS great. Feels good to be on the side of the Sludge consensus for once.

No. It's terrible. There is no such "consensus" here, at least among the few non-mental patients here.