Customer Reviews

Killing Ground

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As long as there's a new Saxon album to look foreward to, I will have a reason to get up in the morning. These guys simply amaze me. I was a leather-clad youth in those heady days of '82 when bands like Saxon, Priest and Raven ruled the import bins at the local record store, and although most of those bands have either called it quits or put out lame copies of their glory-day material ever since, Saxon consistantly relases great albums time after time until you start to wonder if this stupid world will ever notice. Name a band who 20 years later, can still put out albums as good or better than their "classic" ones? Saxon is the only one I can think of. Killing Ground opens with one of the smokin-ist opening numbers of their career with the title track. It's fast, heavy, singable and trust me...after the first 8 measures a big smile will cross your face. In this world of disappointment, at least a new Saxon album is something you can rely on. Long may they wave.

Saxon "Killing Ground." The best metal album of 2001 and a CD full of ear candy.

While some mature acts rehash their old material or sell their souls by changing with the times in order to stay in the business, Saxon proves what remaining true to yourself can do, produce quality music with no compromises. And it's about time they got their due.

Saxon once again shows why they've been around for 30 years, as they could do in their sleep what many younger acts wish they could do with all their guitar effects and studio tricks, deliver the goods. This band is not getting older, it's getting better. These guys have been around since the New Wave of Heavy Metal was new, which was in the late 1970's and early 1980s. They have changed personnel, but have never changed their attitude, their ability to play their instruments, or their ability to deliver excellent albums.

"Killing Ground" is most arguably their best effort, rivaling the classic feel of "Crusader," "The Power and the Glory," and "Innocence is no Excuse," while still sounding modern.

I've followed this band since I discovered "The Eagle Has Landed" in 1980, and have always liked what they've done, which is to play high quality metal with a unique mixture of both crunch and melody. This album has all that and has managed to update the sound to a slightly "grunge" feel, which works really well without selling out. Biff Byford is better than ever, his vocal range having expanded to encompass AC/DC like throat histrionics while maintaining his trademark blood curdling screams.

The production is both clean and sober as well as in your face, allowing you to hear all the instruments without straining, but keeping them well within the spotless mix. And even though the songs are standard Saxon fare, they all work. There isn't a bad tune on this album, which is not likely to move from my CD drive for a long time. The offerings range from the excellent and war inspired "Killing Ground," to the party anthem "Hell Freezes Over." "Dragon's Lair", "Coming Home," and "You Don't Know What You've Got," are all excellent songs featuring double lead harmonic guitars and bone crushing rhythm sections, while "The Court of The Crimson King," is a fantasy wonderland brought to life, replete with rich vocal harmonies and guitar synthesizers.

"Shadows on the Wall," is a new departure for the band successfully fusing the traditional metal style with aspects of grunge. But despite the mix, the song is tastefully done and does not take away the band's merit, nor make this a cheap attempt by a mature metal Super Group to capitalize on new trends.

Destined for the classic bin. "Killing Ground" is a must own for any true metal fan.

I've watched SAXON live in May, 2002. It was a very small gig, just five hundred people in the audience. I had never watched them live before. Man, what a gig! What energy and enthusiasm. They could not have cared less if the place was empty. Their profissionalism was in control, they delivered everything they got, mainly bassist Nibbs Carter. Biff's voice has IMPROVED with time, amazing! There were no tricks, no overdubs, no playbacks: it was his powerful voice going through the songs all the time.

So, soon after the gig I bought KILLING GROUND (the limited edition). Man, what a job! Giving sequence to their last great albums UNLEASH THE BEAST and METALHEAD, this one here is breathtaking. The quality of production is just the best. The second CD featuring old classics re-recorded is also majestic.

SAXON is a phenomenon. They lost their way in the eighties, trying to adapt their sound to radio and America, but they failed. Since then, it has been a long road back to their metal best, including fighting in court with ex-members Dawnson and Oliver. They are doing it, they are successfull again, even in this environment totally opposite to metal. Also, SAXON has an easily recognizable style, but they manage to do it with a different touch in every album, unlike, for example, Iron Maiden or AC/DC.

KILLING GROUND is a fantastic rock album, simple as it.

saxon are one of the bands that really didn't diverisify into commercial aspect in this album, they kept playing true heavy metal. songs like rock is our life, killing ground, dragon's lair and deeds of glory express their roots glory back to crusader and power of glory. i can't get rid of thi album , i bought this album several months ago and i m still listening to it until now. Saxon doesn't even need a review because they don't let you down . rock is our life!!!

Man, these guys can sure make music! Saxon is at their metalhead best when they stay away from restricting themselves to a singular musical concept, and this album does it with just good old fashioned hard rock. Saxon has been one of my all time favorite bands...I remember eagerly awaiting a special order vinyl version of "Wheels Of Steel" over 20 years ago. What a history these guys have had.

One of Saxon's strong suits, and frankly it slays me why their popularity has have exploded in the US, is that they bring so much energy to their music, both recorded and live. Saxon is not power metal, but a majestic hybrid mixture of positive powerful hard rock and heavy metal. Their song writing and music have matured and evolved exponentially in the last 30 years to hard rock perfection; what heavy music should engender.

Biff Byford has the quintassential "majestic" rock voice, and I swear it sounds as good here on Killing Ground as it did on the first album I bought, "Denim & Leather." What appeals to me on this album (in my advancing age along with Saxon) are the addition of some groove oriented rockers that move along at the 4/4 time pace, and simply burn an indelible image. The guitars on this album by Doug and Paul are not as much in your face as in younger days, and support the song structures very effectively. The grinding and pumping riffage, and soloing is still there, but appropriately and tastefully so. My favorite songs here are "Coming Home," "Hell Freezes Over," "You Don't Know What You've Got" and "Deeds of Glory." A special favorite, living in Southern California, is "Running For The Border," with numerous references to Mexico (these guys are from England, and rarely, if ever, make it west of the Mississippi....hilarious!).

I know that time will eventually take these guys away, but they are just so good that I hope they NEVER retire! I wish they could get their asses to CA for a concert some day; they'd be surprised at the turnout!

this CD is rock solid from start to finish. Saxon's songwriting skills and instrumental talent shines in this 2001 release. KG is my favorite studio release since Solid Ball of Rock 10 years earlier.

this is a great starting point for new fans and a must for any Saxon die-hard. check out Heavy Metal Thunder as well, an excellent set of classic Saxon songs re-recorded with the current lineup.

Killing Ground is Saxon's finest album to date with the kind of riffery that will satisfy your metal appetite. Mr. Byford & Co. really dug deep this time and came up with an impressive intro along with 10 meaty slabs that you can sink your teeth into. That and the 8 classics that they revamped kick serious (...). Tracks Killing Ground and Deeds of Glory are sure to give you a lead foot when you crank'em in your car stereo, while anthems Coming Home, Hell Freezes Over, and Rock is our Life set fire to your speakers.

To sum up, Killing Ground is an intelligently constructed album that you can listen to over and over with the likes of Power and the Glory, Wheels of Steel, and Strong Arm of the Law. An outstanding masterpiece. Strap it on...

This album is the only SAXON I have the limited edtion I'm a good authority on this one as i was the drum tech for the band on the first part of the killing ground tour i got to hear most of the album live every night the title track was the opener for the show and what an opener all that rage and fury as they leapt on to stage it fueled a spectacular performance every night these guys were no slackers when entertaining the crowds their shows lasted no shorter than 2.5 hours some up to3 hours.Anyway back to the review well they followed the piper followed the drums right into the Crimson King a cover of the King Crimson track these guys made it their own.In Saxon tradition they have written some classic tracks on the album Dragons Lair as it suggests is a flight of fantasy british metal at its best.Biff Byfords vocals have never been better this is the biggest selling album this band has had if a few years and their back to show the youngsters how it should be done! As for the bonus CD a reworking of 8 classic Saxon tracks all die hard fans will love this one lets rock til we drop yeah as the man said THE BAND PLAYED ON!!!!!!!

Killing Ground is Saxon's finest album to date with the kind of riffery that will satisfy your metal appetite. Mr. Byford & Co. really dug deep this time and came up with an impressive intro along with 10 meaty slabs that you can sink your teeth into. That and the 8 classics that they revamped kick serious (...). Tracks Killing Ground and Deeds of Glory are sure to give you a lead foot when you crank'em in your car stereo, while anthems Coming Home, Hell Freezes Over, and Rock is our Life set fire to your speakers.

To sum up, Killing Ground is an intelligently constructed album that you can listen to over and over with the likes of Power and the Glory, Wheels of Steel, and Strong Arm of the Law. An outstanding masterpiece. Strap it on...

As I said, like this one much better than the last one. It starts out with a "Crusader"-like intro into the title track. Most all the songs are strong, but "Coming Home" & "Don't Know What You Got" really stand out. The production is great, Biff's voice sounds as unique & charismatic as always, & the playing is top notch as usual. It's quite good; not their best, but if you like this band, you won't be disappointed.