Genre: NWOBHM

Label: SPV Records

IS Rating: 7

Comments: NWOBHM pioneers keep the fire alive.

Release Date: January 9, 2009

As far as this reviewer knows, having a song titled “Battalions of Steel” was off limits for anyone who didn’t wish to drown in cheese for heavy metal’s sake. But then again, we’re dealing with Saxon here. Before there was Manowar, and certainly before your favorite Rhapsody or Hammerfall, there was Saxon. Sure, they might never have reached the heights of peers Iron Maiden, but they’ve stood the test of time and welcome this year with a smashing new album titled “Into The Labyrinth.”

So yeah, they’ve got a “Battalions of Steels” that’s all church organs and epic bombast to crank open their latest opus. It sounds great by the way. Makes you want to grab a sword, swing it in the air, and swear an oath of fealty to heavy metal. Aren’t you loving this already? It only gets worse on the next song, “Live to Rock,” where the band extol their lifestyle on the road. “Demon Sweeney Todd” brings some Iron Maiden storytelling into the mix, but mind you, these guys don’t clone their NWOBHM cohorts, they merely breathe life into 19^th century horror.

“The Letter” serves as an introduction to the album’s best track, “Valley of the Kings,” where Biff Byford’s bulletproof vocals reaches its breathtaking peak. Mind you, he’s not your falsetto belter, as he prefers staying his gruff self no matter the tempo. The following songs swing from bluesy hard rock to mid pacing metal anthems and it isn’t until the chest thumping “Come Rock Of Ages” that Saxon go out with a bang. As a farewell of sorts a country-fied version of “Coming Home” revisits the band’s life on the road. These Saxons just love touring.

Miquel Blardony