•
Rating: Among the many pioneers of the NWOBHM, few have been as underrated as Saxon. Perhaps due to their too direct style, perhaps because they weren't technically perfect, but in any case, their name is often overlooked among those who made 80s heavy metal great.
A real shame because they deserve to be taken into consideration, especially for this 'Strong Arm Of The Law' from 1980, considered their all-time masterpiece. It may be less immediate compared to the previous album, but listening to an opener like Heavy Metal Thunder, with Biff Bydford's growl and the distorted guitars forming a wall of sound, you can't help but be impressed. To Hell And Back Again is a lively song endowed with that good dose of speed that only heavy metal possesses.
And then there's the masterpiece, the title-track Strong Arm Of The Law, with a terrific chorus in which Byford demonstrates what kind of lungs he possesses. You love this song from the first listen because it really sticks with you. In Taking Your Chances, one must appreciate especially the great work of the two guitars, played by Paul Quinn and Graham Oliver. The short interlude and then the final solos are really beautiful, demonstrating that even while composing rather simple riffs, Saxon also know how to play like the great metal artists.
The most compelling track on the record is called 20,000 Feet, where Peter Gill's drums seem to never stop, and the whole band is in great form. Hungry Years is a nice blues-metal, while Sixth from girls presents us with an obsessive riff played throughout the whole song. A masterpiece closes the album: Dallas 1 PM, which narrates the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy that occurred in 1963. Steve Dawson's bass in this song is formidable, especially in the intro where the guitars come in afterward. The lyrics of the song are also beautiful, and Byford gives a splendid performance.
This album takes your breath away from start to finish, not a single slow piece, not a single guitar without distortion. Continuing to overlook an album like this would be a great mistake because they don't make records like this anymore these days!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Heavy Metal Thunder (04:13)
If you're taking a bite (*)
At the speed of light
You're shaking your heads to the band
There's a dare on your horse
But you're not on the force
We're taking this think to the ground
In the heat of the night (**)
When you're fists are alight
Touching temples of steel
And your body's on fire
About to expire
But you don't feel the pressure of pain
Pull your head back (***)
Hold your hands high
Shake your body
And it's too loud
And you put them up fill your heads
With heavy metal thunder
Heavy metal thunder
On the wings of an eagle (****)
You're hoping to fly
Holding your hands to the sky
On a blue sea of venom
You turn to the band with
Your banners and skirts blowing high
If you think something more (*****)
You'll come down to the front
Then you'll do as they say
Where an army of cars
Are surrounded by lights
Turning my face to the ground
Nobody stands in our way
(Repeat *** twice)
(Repeat *)
(Repeat **)
(Repeat ***)
(Repeat ****)
(Repeat *****)
(Repeat ***)
03 Strong Arm of the Law (04:30)
I was listening to the music on the radio (*)
I had a feeling that something's not right
The music was loud, we could still hear the crowd
From the gig that we played that night
We pulled into a motorway restaurant
Stopped awhile, fooled around
But I still had a feeling that something's not right
'Cause we're standing in a whole in the ground
Stop, get out (**)
We are the strong arm of the law
Stop, get out
We are the strong arm of the law
Into the night came a blue flashing light
A blast from the siren to make sure
But it came to a stop behind the motorway cop
Who'd been tailing us for more than an hour
He pulled us out of the car on the side of the road
He questioned us one at a time
Where is the gear that we know that you use
We said the only speed we use is on cars
(Repeat **)
You should've seen the stupid smirk drop from his face
It was a negative exercise
The way that we dress and the things that we do
They thought it was an easy bust
(Repeat *)
(Repeat **)
04 Taking Your Chances (04:09)
I know that it's cold (*)
Well don't stand outside my door
I told you before
I don't want you anymore
Changed all the locks
And took away your key
I don't care where you go
But just stay away from me
I can't stand it (**)
I don't need it
I don't want you
I can't trust you
Taking your chances
In the world outside
Taking your chances
In the world outside
I gave all I had
But you still come back for more
It's the end of the line for me
And that's for sure
Well I know that you're proud
And you love me to the bone
When it's better for you to go
You don't stay home
(Repeat **)
(Repeat *)
It's the end of the line for me
And that's for sure
I don't care where you go
But just keep away from here
(Repeat **)
05 20,000 ft. (03:44)
If there's one thing I love
It's flying high above
Breaking through the barrier of sound
It's just like making love
When you're up above
Riding in my bird of silver steel
Forget the time (*)
Ten miles high
Living my fantasies
At twenty thousand feet
Twenty thousand feet, twenty thousand feet
It's the rushing of my blood
That makes me feel so good
I can see the world below just shooting by
Twice the speed of sound
That's how I like to ride
My chariot of steel across the sky
(Repeat *)
If it's faster than light
Sharper than steel
I'll race across the ceiling of the world
Just like a gun
Aiming at the sun
Riding in my bird of silver steel
(Repeat *)
I'm floating in space
The world seems to disappear
Then I awake
Got to get my head back in place
Twenty thousand feet, twenty thousand feet
Twenty thousand feet, twenty thousand feet
06 Hungry Years (04:36)
They came down from the north
To the plough they were forged
On the traces of a man who'd been before
Right up from the street
Came the ranks of unemployed
Then everything became the hungry years
They searched the hungry years (*)
For the triumphs by the fears
There's a chance they had to take
They were waiting for a break
They searched the hungry years
For the triumphs by the fears
Some make it to the stars
Playing rock and roll guitars
Playing rock and roll guitars
They read under the lights (**)
To the jews and to the whites
The systems gonna change and understand them
The business world is deep
For a percentage of the heat
There was magic in the eyes
They couldn't see the lies
They watched it slowly die
(Repeat *)
Some take the fame
And some take the blame
Maybe they will and maybe they won't
Tonight...
(Repeat **)
(Repeat *)
07 Sixth Form Girls (04:15)
Sixth form can't get out at night (*)
They keep them in, it's an awful sin
Should set them free and let them roam
The lights inside their dormitory
When they go black you sneak away
The plans are set but don't go yet
They run down town to join the crowds (**)
They're leaving school behind
They meet the boys from the factory
They're staying out all night, all night
Sixth form girls they're looking good
Skin tight jeans
They're out for fun
They drink wine late at night
Meet some man who'll make them laugh
Buy them drinks and make a pass
Take them back to a penthouse flat
(Repeat **)
Sixth form girls take their pick of men
They're learning fast the ways of love
Just sixteen, teenage dream
(Repeat *)
(Repeat **)
08 Dallas 1 PM (06:16)
Down on main street the scene was set
They check out the fuel turn the radio on
Open the gates, assemble the gun
Wait at the red, for the president's run
The world was shocked that fateful day (*)
A young man's lot was blown away, away
Dallas 1 p.m., 1 p.m.
Right and left in the back of the head
Screaming confusion, shots rip the air
Cadillac racing, cops on the run
They couldn't believe the president's hit
The shooting stunned as I seemed to run
Is he dead, no-one will say
Around the world the news was flashed
We sat and watched your tragic history
(Repeat *)
The world was shocked
In Dallas 1 p.m.
We sat and watched
Tragic history
The world was shocked
In Dallas 1 p.m.
Stephane Lajeunesse
Barons d'Arthabaska
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By mollet
Heavy Metal, a word that can mean many things, passion, genius, pogo, mosh, etc... But only one distinguishes it and that’s HARDNESS.
I consider this album one of the most influential for Heavy Metal and, in my opinion, lays the foundation for what the Heavy Metal of the eighties would be.
