Band:	Saxon
Album:	Into The Labyrinth
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	January 09, 2009
A review by:	Jeff

01. Battalions Of Steel
02. Live To Rock
03. Demon Sweeney Todd
04. The Letter
05. Valley Of The Kings
06. Slow Lane Blues
07. Crime Of Passion
08. Premonition In D Minor
09. Voice
10. Protect Yourselves
11. Hellcat
12. Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)
13. Coming Home [Bottleneck version]

Sometime first feelings are weird and definitely wrong. I don't know why but when I listened to "Into The Labyrinth" for the first time, I found this album terribly boring and uninspired. Maybe that the problem came from the first song "Battalions Of Steel" which is too epic (strangely I like it a lot now?) but I don't know why I was totally wrong about the new Saxon? The more I listen to it, the more I like it and for sure, the British Heavy Metalers are back to the top with this release!

I'm one of the first fans of Saxon, first because in my opinion Biff is one of the best Heavy Metal singers (probably my favorite) and of course because some of their albums (and songs), no need to give names, are just fantastic. "Lion Heart" released in 2004 was a good return to the success but "The Inner Sanctum" (2007) was a bit disappointing for me and definitely tedious. I was expecting a lot of "Into The Labyrinth" because I wanted to see a great album and as you already know I didn't have any revelation at the first listening. I don't know the reason of this mistake, maybe that the album is not so easy of access but when you have a better look at it, it's obvious that we're in front of a great release. First, I like the fact that we have good ol' Rock N Roll songs like "Live To Rock" (something which will remind you songs like "Strong Arms Of The Law") but also true Heavy Metal ones like "Demon Sweeny Todd" or anthem ballades like "Voice". So ok, I'm not a fan of the epic sides that we can hear on "Battalions Of Steel" or "Valley Of The Kings" but all in all, this album is just full of hits and even those songs are more than ok anyway. If you add that we even have a new classy bottleneck version of "Coming Home" (featured at first on Killing Ground) you can be sure that you'll not be bored when you'll listen to the release. Seriously, "Into The Labyrinth" features all what we want to hear when we listen to Saxon, Heavy Metal spirit and Rock N Roll!

I won't say any words about Biff Byford this time? No actually I just can't avoid it, his performance is just amazing one more time, the older he is, the best he is? And since I don't want to create any kind of jealousy between the other band members, I will simply say that they rock too. Everything is perfectly done here, from the interpretation to the production. "Into The Labyrinth" is probably one of the most complete albums that the British band has released lately. Oki, maybe that, like me, you'll not understand it at first but please take some time and you'll understand what I want to say here?

What are you waiting for? What are you doing here in front of your PC? I believe that it should be better idea to run to your favorite record shop to buy the excellent new Saxon album. I'm already expecting a lot of their future tour (with Iced Earth) because the new songs will simply kick our asses live. It's good to see that after an average album, the guys managed to release something great! Don't miss "Into The Labyrinth" in any way, it will simply be one of the best Heavy Metal releases of the year 2009.