Samson
Survivors

Many names in the late 70s contributed to the development of a harder Rock, which we now call Heavy Metal, without achieving the deserved success and fame. 1979, Accept debuted with their raw self-titled album, Diamond Head was set to surprise everyone with their “Lightning To The Nations”, Saxon embarked on their path, all backed by great works from Motorhead and Judas Priest. The NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) was born, and there were many bands that contributed significantly, shaped its standards, and gave it an identity, such as Tyger Of Pan Tang, Angel Witch, and Samson. It is indeed Samson that I will talk about in this review, examining their debut album, “Survivors”, crucial for the transition from Hard Rock to Heavy Metal.

Samson was formed in 1977, centered around their charismatic guitarist and vocalist who gave the group its name, Paul Samson. Undoubtedly, the band's most known works are their early albums, where the lineup features many interesting members, such as drummer Barry Graham, nicknamed Thunderstick, who appeared on stage with a leather mask in the style of Leatherface from Tobe Hooper's masterpiece 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' of 1974, and Bruce Dickinson. Yes, you heard it right, it's him, who at the time liked to be called Bruce Bruce, although he was still absent in this first album. Another important name is Clive Burr, who participated in some later phases. It's easy to hypothesize that the group's decline began exactly when Bruce Bruce became the vocalist for Iron Maiden. The charm of this group increases when one finds out it's a Power Trio since Paul Simon was both guitarist and vocalist, a very unusual choice, considering that at the time double or even triple guitars were the norm. Perhaps this was also a cause of their lack of success.

It's not easy to label 'Survivors', too Heavy Metal at times, too Hard Rock at others. Without a doubt, more Heavy clues are found from the very first track, 'It's Not as Easy as It Seems', but the tones drop in the second, entertaining track 'I Wish I Was The Saddle Of A Schoolgirl’s Bike'. The impeccable guitar work of the late Paul Samson, who passed away in 2002, leaving a great void for 80s Metal enthusiasts, is undeniable. But the pearl is undoubtedly 'Tomorrow Or Yesterday', a slow ballad accompanied by the piano that then advances with stronger, harder rhythms, becoming a precursor to a thousand subsequent semi-ballads, such as Fade To Black by Metallica, Watch The Children Pray by Metal Church, but to me, personally, it also very much recalls Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue. And again, it's needless to say, Paul’s six-string performance is impeccable. The album moves between highs and lows, but it's the instrumental parts that make this album a gem of the genre, perhaps the best example is in 'Big Brother'. Psychedelic veins, quite unusual for this type of record, in the last track, 'Wrong Side Of Time'.

All in all, an album that in certain respects leaves much to be desired, but crucial for those who want to grasp the fascinating difference between 70s Hard Rock and the emerging NWOBHM, of which this album certainly serves as an introduction.

PS: Ah, in the subsequent albums there will be a certain Bruce Dickinson on the mic.