Customer Reviews

Metalhead

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

this CD kicks from start to finish. all i can suggest to the naysayers is give this disc another chance. to saxon fans: do NOT believe 'one listen' reviews! this a terribly underrated release that deserves more credit and recognition.

i bought this CD upon first release and thought it was 'just OK'. i shelved it for 2+ years then popped it in again after listening to Killing Ground. to this day i can't understand why i thought this CD was mediocre! you must give this Saxon release at least 2-3 listens; to get accustomed to its sound.

i really enjoy this 1999 underrated gem and think you will too.

This time around reduced to two original members,Saxon have managed to truly recapture the magic of their early albums.Rawness and their traditional grooves,some electronic treatments,all lent a helping hand to this excellent new album.

I've read the criticisms below of this album and the complaints seem to be largely things like "lacklustre riffs" "no real hooks". In a way I can see why people may think that. The riffs although often complex sometimes sound like generic "chugga chugga" type stuff with few riffs sticking in your head. But actually if you listen to the verse and chorus parts of songs this album has some very good melodic moments. Although heavy metal is built largely around riffs, it's not the be all and end all of a song. Conquistador and What Goes Around are good examples of songs that don't have outstanding riffs, but fine melodies.(and no, melody does not equal "wussiness"!)

I actually like this album a lot. Apart from the melodic touches, the vocal harmonies are pretty cool, the band are in fine form instrumentally, and it's heavy and well recorded.

And All Guns Blazing is a fantastic song to crank up loud when life gets you down!

4 stars, and well recommended.

I have been a fan since the mid '80s; looking forward to seeing them live again. Finally got to see them the first time in '98 & they just STOMPED!! Had waited to see them & Priest my whole life & saw Priest 3 months prior to Saxon; the band played well, but Ripper ain't Halford & Saxon just STOMPED!! I don't like this album as well as many of their others. I must admit that like a previous reviewer, I really couldn't find anything that really got to me on the first listen expect "Sea of Light" which is classic Saxon. It is strong sounding & well produced, but I like several of their others much better, particularly "Crusader". But they still have a lot of juice in them & you've gotta admire their persistence. The world can't ignore a band this good forever. Keep the faith & continue to tell other metalheads about Saxon. I'm always surprised at how many metal fans have never even heard them! But as always, once they do they're hooked & want to hear more. "We'll be rockin' together, rockin' again!"

First, let me say I am a huge Saxon fan. In fact, Saxon was the first heavy metal band I ever saw in concert way back in 1985. But as much as I anjoy their music, this album was a major let down. Biff Byford's trademark vocals are obscured behind a wall of guitars that offer little to challenge the ear. If that isn't bad enough, there isn't a single song that makes you want to sing along or offers a memorable hook like Saxon's earlier works. Their previous effort, Unleash the Beast, is a far better offering. I am a Saxon fan, but someone has to tell it like it is. The boys don't deliver on this recording.

Well where do you begin. This band never got any respect for what it is they are great at and that is straight hard rock in your face. Rock isn't complex it's just rock. These guys never stopped creating the sound that others put to the side when they sold out to their record labels. Just because these guys don't sound like everyone else doesn't give people the right to call them cheap. "MetalHead" Rocks from front to back. I think "Solid Ball of Rock", "Dogs of War" and "Unleash the Beast" are their best works. This album falls off slightly but I am yet to find a band to come close to blowing these guys away. America embrace Saxon or get the hell out of the way.

One of the few survivors of British Metal of the 80's (along with Maiden and Def Leppard), Saxon has only Biff and Paul Quinn aboard, from the original line-up. Of course, constant changes of line-up are the wrost thing for a band to do. But "Unleash the Beast" was their best album in a long time, and "METALHEAD" didn't follow it up...

If anyone knows if Saxon is going to tour the United States please e-mail me! (kenan@transadapt.com) In regard to the music of Saxon if you have liked them from their beginning "first album" you will like their latest "this album" .....note..... "if you like Dallas 1 pm" or "and the band played on" you must buy the new album

Decent 1999 effort by these long running pioneers of the 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' era.Personally,I am amazed that Saxon not only still exists,but can STILL put together good music,such as this effort.Maybe not a classic,but still a worthy piece of the lengthy Saxon repertoire.Tracks that had me sit up and take notice were the title cut "Metalhead","Conquistador","Prisoner",the rocking "Piss Off" and the eight-minute untitled track 11.Line-up:Biff Byford-vocals,Paul Quinn&Doug Scarratt-guitars,Chris Bay-keyboards and (new member) Fritz Randow-drums. Long live SAXON!

I just got the new Saxon album (Metalhead) and it is great. I have been a huge Saxon fan since they came out in the late 70's and I really like this new one. I would say it is better then Unleash the Beast and certainly better than their last 3 or 4 (remember that Christopher Cross cover.....ick!). The disc is primarily written and produced by Biff so it is not as polished as their last one and the riffs are heavier. Anyway, forever a fan and I love the new album. If I didn't I would give it a 4......hey, this is Saxon! Looking forward to them coming to play a dive near me.