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Rating: The Saxons are one of the most important bands that contributed to the birth of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal alongside Iron Maiden, Samson, Venom (in their extreme form), and Diamond Head.
Their decline in terms of sales and popularity began precisely with this album "Crusader," "because it's full of commercial tracks," as fans accused them. Despite the validity of the accusation, the record is still a beautiful album, which rightfully belongs among the historical albums of NWOBHM, as it’s filled with all the ingredients for a good Saxon-style album: appropriate riffs, very nice solos that are not excessively long, and the impact of a rocker voice like that of Biff Byford. The album starts with the intro "The Crusader Prelude", where you hear screams and the passage of knights over a battlefield from the era of the crusades, a theme on which most of the lyrics were written. The actual album begins with "Crusade", an initial acoustic guitar arpeggio and then it kicks off with a solid and compact heavy metal, not complex but effective drum lines, a very nice track, a cadenced voice for Byff who really amazes on this album with the Saxon-typical anthemic choruses, the solo is also very nice. A speed rock track with a slight glam inclination is "A Little Bit Of What You Fancy", this is one of the tracks that fans criticize for its commerciality, in fact, the main riff and anthemic chorus are very catchy, the same goes for the trivial solo, it's not the best track on the album!
Cadenced rhythms for "Sailing To America", a decent hard rock piece, here too anthemic chorus, not very engaging but pleasant to listen to until the end, well done Biff! We return to excellent levels with "Set Me Free", a pressing rhythm and Maiden-like melodies for a one hundred percent Saxon ride. A certain AC/DC attitude in "Just Let Me Rock", here too heavy rock is robust and cadenced, but Biff, being the true rock singer, stands out again, the solo is nice, not very technical but pleasant, even if the whole song seems a bit repetitive it’s one of the best on the album. Another well-constructed track is "Bad Boys (Live To Rock n' Roll)", the usual stadium chant-like chorus and another song that builds on Biff's voice, tough riffs, and good rhythm. Majestic Middle-Eastern opening for "Do It All For You", it seems to foreshadow another epic song, but the subsequent guitar arpeggio leads us into a completely different song that feels the melodic influence of Queen, even if it is very commercial, it has an awesome solo, wonderful, the best of the whole bunch! Still great catchiness for "Rock City", however (as seen in the other songs) commerciality does not equate to trash/song, but to yet another anthemic song, with a great rhythm and good chorus, another highlight of this "Crusader" for its well-played, not at all banal solo.
It concludes with "Run For Your Lives", a song that reprises the Saxon standard style with some Maiden-like melodies, another gem of the album especially for its choruses. "Crusader" is among the many demonstrations that catchiness or commercialization does not necessarily mean betrayal or softening of the sound, as well as being an important album in Saxon's discography.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Crusader (06:32)
Crusader, crusader, please take me with you
The battle lies far to the east
Crusader, crusader, don't leave me alone
I want to ride out on your quest
I'm waiting, I'm waiting, to stand by your side
To fight with you over the sea
They're calling, they're calling, I have to be there
The holy land has to be free
Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Fight the good fight
With all your might
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
We're marching, we're marching, to a land far from home
No one can say who'll return
For Christendom's sake, we'll take our revenge
On the pagans from out of the east
We Christians are coming, with swords held on high
United by faith and the cause
The Saracen heathen will soon taste our steel
Our standards will rise 'cross the land
Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Fight the good fight
With all your might
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
To battle, to battle, the Saracen hordes
We follow the warrior king
Onward, ride onward, into the fight
We carry the sign of the cross
Warlords of England, Knights of the Realm
Spilling their blood in the sand
Crusader, crusader, the legend is born
The future will honour your deeds
Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Fight the good fight
With all your might
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
(Come Crusader let battle commence)
Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm
Crusader, the Lord of the Realm-
03 A Little Bit of What You Fancy (03:50)
When I hit the ground, I was on the run
I was born, the seventh son
I came up fast, just wanting more
Always running from the law
My father said, now slow down son
Life for you has just begun
A little bit of what you fancy always does you good (*)
A little bit of what you fancy always does you good
Don't stop me now, I'm running wild
I've always been a restless child
I was born to rock and roll
Mmm, it's in my soul
I've got my Ford, she's long and black
Who needs a fucking Cadillac
(Repeat *)
I sleep all day and I'm up all night
I don't get paid, but that's alright
Don't put me down, I've had enough
I'll stand and fight
When I hit the ground, I was on the run
I was born the seventh son
(Repeat *)
04 Sailing to America (05:02)
Excitement in the air
There's a journey to prepare
They check the food and water's all on board
They're waiting for the tide
The sails are open wide
They're sailing to a better place to dwell
They're sailing to America (*)
Fly the banners high
They're sailing to America
Set the rigging high
The quayside's full of friends
A farewell in their hands
No-one knows if they will reach the shore
As Plymouth slips away
They'll not be back again
They're sailing off towards the promised land
(Repeat *)
They're sailing to America
Fly the banners high
The Mayflower's on her way
Set sail for many days
The lookout searching for the distant shore
Anchored in the surf
Their journey's at an end
The pilgrims set their feet on virgin land
(Repeat *)
05 Set Me Free (03:12)
[Andy Scott]
[Originally performed by : Sweet]
Gagged, balled and chained
Feels just the same
Hands on the wall
Maybe you're just playin' games
Set me free
Mauled by a hound
Hangin' around
Is this for real
I don't know when I'll be found
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Taken by force
By you of course
Far from my bed
I know I'd rather be dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Fire in my brain
Burn me insane
Making your mark
Don't leave me here in the dark
Set me free
Call me a Saint
That's what I ain't
Inside my head
Maybe I'd feel better dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Set me free
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