Customer Reviews

Destiny

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Heres yet another new SAXON re-release on French based Axe Killer records,this time "Destiny",the bands ninth studio effort and most commercial material ever recorded by this long running NWOBHM act.This cd has a good mix and a few bonus tracks not found on the EMI release of Destiny."Live Fast,Die Young" is a curious choice for a bonus song as it wasn't recorded during the "Destiny" recording session rather during 1985's "Innocence Is No Excuse". I think it would have been a better idea to put it on the Axe Killer release of "Innocence" since it was from that era but anyway its a good SAXON tune which deserves to be on cd regardless of which one.As to the ten tracks on "Destiny" itself its 80's melodic pop metal with catchy hooks, keyboards and big choruses.Check out "I Can't Wait Anymore","Song For Emma" and "We Are Strong" for an example.Clearly these SAXON tunes were aimed for American radio but hardly dented Americas charts while slowly corriding the old fan base here and abroad.SAXON finally gave up trying to write top 40 rock and have avoided commercial releases since then.They returnend to there metal roots on there 1990 follow up "Solid Ball Of Rock" and there other releases during the 1990s and beyond,reviving there popularity and fan base.

Destiny was the very first Saxon album I purchased. And as such I have to admit to having a slight bias towards this album.

The second song " Where The Lightning Strikes " was and still is one of my all time favorite songs. I love the guitar riffs and 80's style chorus.

Of course when you start comparing this album with earlier and later material, is simply falls flat on its face like a mouse that decided that the cheese on the trap looked rather tasty.

There are a few other tracks that stand out but as a whole this album is one to miss. Start your Saxon adventure with Denim and Leather or a couple of the newest releases as Saxon have blasted back into life recently.

Originally released in 1988 and now beautifully remastered by the French maverick label Axe Killer, "Destiny" was Saxon's attempt to break into the American market.Contrary to their trademark NWOBHM sound,this is an album with pop leanings and thick keyboards,however a very good one,showing that the band still had signs of life.

The only disappointment in the entire Saxon library. There are albums that truly need to be remastered on CD. This one should not have even made it to 8Track. This was a great example of how not to attract new fans.