SAXON: Wheels Of Steel (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After a first eponymous album that went almost unnoticed (it will only be published in CD format in 1999), "Wheels Of Steel" comes to position Saxon in the middle of the new wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and the least we can say is that this arrival is noisy. And this term applies as well to the music played by the 5 Englishmen as to the success that this album will have. Indeed, "Wheels Of Steel" is one of those legendary albums that every fan of metal music must have in his discotheque, under penalty of being considered as an uneducated person in this field.

Produced by the band itself and by Pete Hinton, "Wheels Of Steel" imposes the Saxon style, in particular thanks to the arrival of a second guitar held by Graham Oliver. The melodic metal of Saxon is fleshed out and gains both in power and melody, the complicity with Paul Quinn being obvious and leading to jousts of 6 strings enjoyable. This will become one of the trademarks of the combo, with the unavoidable voice of Biff Byford as well as the roaring bass on which comes to lean on the majority of the titles. The only small weak point of Saxon could be Pete Gill's playing, which far from being bad, remains more rock than metal.

Let's come to the collection of anthems that compose this album, starting with the eponymous track. Led by a heavy and efficient riff and reinforced by a chorus with an immediate effect, "Wheels Of Steel" has become as essential in Saxon's repertoire as "Smoke On The Water" in Deep Purple's or "Highway To Hell" in AC/DC's. However, it should not make us forget the whole of the tracks of this album which follow one another at full speed without leaving any moment of respite. As the cover, the title and the title of several tracks can let you guess, this album is particularly dedicated to our biker friends. And to erase any trace of doubt, the first track is called "Motorcycle Man" and opens with the sound of a motorcycle going from one speaker to another at full speed. The tempo of the track is fast and the riff and solo are effective. Without encroaching on the band's identity, the influence of Mötorhead is still noticeable.

Another must-have track on this album, "747 (Strangers In The Night)" has also become a live anthem for the band thanks to a simple but heady riff and an immediate and melodic chorus on a background of 6-string harmonies. "Stand Up And Be Counted" lays the foundation for future Saxon classics such as "Strong Arm Of The Law" and "Dallas 1PM" with a riff that crushes everything in its path like a steamroller and takes us into uncontrollable headbanging. "Suzie Hold On" is the most melodic track of the album, while remaining in the field of hard rock, boosted by a humming bass. Finally, "Machine Gun" honors its title with a multitude of guitar blasts that cross a sharp riff on a sustained tempo and illustrated by a slamming chorus, before a final devastating explosion. There too, Lemmy's band is not very far...

"Wheels Of Steel" does not suffer from any dead time or weakness, and it is not by chance that the pantheon of the essential albums of hard-rock, and metal in general, has opened its doors. It is therefore surprising that with albums such as this one, as well as several of its successors, Saxon has never managed to enjoy an aura equivalent to that of their compatriots Iron Maiden. But don't let this mystery keep you from enjoying this concentrated heavy metal anthem. - Official website

SAXON

WHEELS OF STEEL

EMI

MELODIC METAL