I remember when this album came out. I was 17 and blown away. The late 90s were the historical lowpoint of (classic) rock bands. I remember it well. At concerts, I was 17 and everybody else 35. There was a good 10-15 years where these bands had failed to attract new young fans, and it showed. The concerts were good, but bands like Whitesnake or Motorhead would play small halls, and they never sold out. Those older fans were often "real" rockers of the 70s and 80s, i.e. you could see most of them had some sort of addiction (alcohol, heroin) and always dressed up in denim and leather, the way they came to the concerts. They really lived it. For them, this wasn't just music, this was their identity. In a way, that was my youth. Me and the wasted folks from the 80s, we were the only ones who still remembered those bands that everybody else had long forgotten by then. Grunge, then techno parties, raves and rubbish dominated the 90s badly. At rock concerts, I always felt like I was joining the crowd of the damned, the forgotten. Then there was Saxon. I remember my first (and only) concert as if it was yesterday. Full house and by far one of the best evenings I spent back then. Biff really knew how to give the crowd a good time, and there was such an energy and cheerful atmosphere. I don't know what it is about Saxon that (still) makes them somehow magical. They're ridiculous, look ridiulous, their fans are mostly demented, their videos are cringe. I guess they're just that dirty little secret pleasure of many. I rarely listen to them today, but I fucking love them. To me, they are the epitome of the 80s working class rock band that simply refused to "grow up" during the 90s and 00s. Their music was never intelligent or, dare I say, complex in any way, but they just had this power and directness many overproduced bands lacked. Listening to them always feels like time travel back to the mid 80s. For what it's worth, I really miss my youth and that time, even though back then I thought it sucked.
Saxon pretty much got it back with their classic metal sound on Forever Free I think but Dogs of War was noted for a heavier sound. However, nothing could prepare me for how much even heavier, angrier and more epic Unleash The Beast was with some songs even touching on power metal. And It also made me feel great to see Saxon as one of the leading classic metal bands of the NWOBHM releasing finely crafted works of metal in the midst of grunge and alternative rock's popularity back in the 90's.
DEFKONSIXTYSIX It's a joke. See 17:44 here (hell, watch the whole thing, it's amazing): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uvlaDaa0ycA.html
Saw them in March 1982 at The Stone in SF, on their “Denim and Leather” tour. I was 16 at the time and went with a couple friends. Besides a great show it was the first and only time I’ve been to any show, and I’ve been to a lot, where the band actual talked to fans that hung out at the end of the show! Even gave us a couple Heinekens.
This video is awful but Unleash The Beast is my favourite Saxon album. It was also my pick for best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album of 1997. If you never heard Saxon or don't know much of their material I would say start with that album it's excellent.
Fkn' awesome concert here in San Antonio, Texas in 1998 when they Unleashed the Fkn' Beast @ the Blue Bonnet Palace! They invited me on their tour bus after the show to meet the band and sign my ticket stub too!
Saxon were always the best band to come out of NWOBHM, BY A COUNTRY MILE.. I am Sabbath fanatic since 71 and a Priest one since 78 Sabbath, Priest are my top 2 but Saxon are pretty much in there as well
The hills of the North of England (I assume) never looked more metal. And was also nice to see Doug Scarratt shredding away on an Ibanez RG in this video. That was the first guitar I ever got
Ha ha dont think this was actually shot on location, done on the cheap for sure ha ha looks like the band are playing in front of a poster of the countryside
Unleash the Archers + Battle Beast = Unleash The Beast??? Coincidence or not??? xD Just kidding... I've always loved this song!!! Saxon deserves way more love!!!
Really tired of hearing how this or that album brought a Band back. Just as with SABBATH, PRIEST. SAXON started off as pure quality, of the very highest order. Sabbaths 13, Priests Firepower., Saxons carpe Diem are the latest examples of why these 3 absolute powerhouses always were, always will be on a different level to everyone else I rest my case.
Obviously not Nigel Glockler in live footage. I saw this Tour in Cleveland and never could find out who that drummer was. He was really good. Looked very young. Anyone know?
I remember buying this album when I was in high school. I had no idea who Saxon was and the only reason I bought it was because of the cover art. I loved the album. But, with my mother and older brother being deeply religious, after seeing the cover art, they called it devil music and hounded me until I destroyed the cd.
Well they couldn't be that poor if this was his backyard, LOL! & I'd say it turned out pretty well considering a sheep filmed it on a 90s cell phone ;) Jokes aside, I'll take this anyday over the big budget nu metal & alternative videos that were on MTV in those days... Real metal always outlives the trends \m/
