Saxon - Heavy Metal Thunder [Compilation]

Cant wait till i receive it "officially" tomorrow and would be able to listen to it

This was my first Saxon album too and well, it got me into Saxon. I think it has an excellent choice of tracks, having most "mandatory" Saxon songs. (If you liked this start getting the albums themselves and if possible, see them live somewhere, they slay)

But the most amazing thing about Saxon is that how timeless it sounds. I recently gave this one another spin, mostly for the nostalgia value, when I got to the live songs then I kinda expected "Dragon's Lair" to somewhat stick out from the rest, as it is from the newer Saxon, but to my surprise it didn't do that at all, in fact it blended right into the older songs.

I also observed this phenomena (of sorts) on "Killing Ground", where some older Saxon songs were rerecorded (as bonus tracks on a separate disc) and these easily blend into the album. I think that if someone (with no previous experience with Saxon) would listen to that album, he/she wouldn't know that there is a 20 year gap between the both discs.

To quote a certain Metal Archives review of "Killing Ground": "Princess of the Night '01, for example - could you tell that that song was written in 1980? Or, play Dragons Lair from CD1 - does it in any way scream 2001? No, it does not - both are timeless classics of Heavy Fucking Metal the way it is meant to be played." - (Ultraboris)

Well...now i have to say, that first listening was a bit disappointing...at least compared to the second Saxon's compilation i have - The Collection Of Metal...i expected something "even better", but i wasnt fulfilled...maybe more listening will help...

Why are you bothering with these compilations?
Just get the albums... nothing beats them. There will always be great songs that were underrated and missed off these. I'm sick of hearing "Wheels Of Steel" for the millionth time...

Well i am getting what is available...the first collection i saw in shop with discounted books/cds, this one in czech internet auction for great prize...i didnt saw albums anywhere yet...

I prefer this re-recordings over 80's classics. Blasphemy, I know. Production is a reason why and performance is great too! Definitely worth to check out be every HM fan!