» DVDreviews  
« back

Saxon - The Saxon Chronicles - 2 DVD


*
=Staff's pick

DVD 1:
Motorcycle Man*
Dogs Of War*
Heavy Metal Thunder
Cut Out The Disease
Solid Ball Of Rock*
Metalhead
The Eagle Has Landed
Conquistador (drum solo)*
Crusader
Power & The Glory
Princess Of The Night*
Wheels Of Steel (guitar solo)
Strong Arm Of The Law
20.000 Feet*
Denim & Leather

- Interview with Biff Byford*
- Discography
- Moving Main Menu with sound
- Title Selection

DVD 2:
- Saxon On Tour
(approx. 36 min. video: Tour/home video from the band + 3 songs from Esbjerg Festival 1995: 747, Princess Of The Night, Wheels Of Steel)

- Videos
Suzie Hold On
Power & The Glory
Nightmare
Back On The Streets Again
Rockin' Again
(Requiem) We Will Remember
Unleash The Beast + Behind The scenes (approx. 10 min. video: with outtakes from the "Unleash The Beast" videoclip recording)
Killing Ground

- Tv appearances
- Photo Gallery
- Press Clips
- Internet links


Genre Heavy Metal
Biff Byford
Vocals
Tracks 23
Doug Scarratt
Guitar
Runningtime 215 Min.
Paul Quinn
Guitar
Label SPV
Nibbs Carter
Bass
Release 11 Aug. 2003
Fritz Randow
Drums
Country England
-
Keyboards
Similar artists ---

For some reason I have missed out of the major part of Saxons material in my early years, and have only recently opened my eyes for what Saxon has to offer in the metal scene. As the late Saxon fan as I am I find this Dvd a very good compilation of the metal treasure they possess.

When the decision was made to capture their long service in the name of metal in a Dvd package the choice fell on Wacken Open Air, Germany 2001. The choice of songmaterial is perfect. The focus is on the uptempo songs (which represent what Saxon is for me, and show them from their best side), and a few of their best midtempo and heavy cuts are thrown in to make it a perfect mix. The show starts with some fast classics and a few of their heavier cuts to get us warm and it continues in the same spirit with the catchy, fast classics throughout the show.

Saxon is co-founders of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that arose back in the late 70' s and formed the scene of todays metal along with such bands as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Judas Priest to name a few. The guys are carrying along their trademark with the honours and show that "the old men still rule". When they start up one of those smashing, classic riffs and the migthy Biff puts his leg on one of the monitors and points out over the crowd with three fingers and announce Princess Of The Night - than you just have to surrender to one of the best live metalacts there are. The sound and the production is just as the band state in the booklet: "brill".

Saxon is putting on a very sharp and "alive" show here, which can be a bit hard on very big stages like Wacken where it can tend to be a bit sterile. The band members are performing well and are inspired. The bassplayer is in a constant headbanging state throughout the show, the interaction between the members are good and Biff is in good shape, smiling and joking between the songs. Even the drumsolo is actually watchable here as Fritz Randow behind the kegs show that he really can handle the sticks and also putting on a show by actually joggling with 3 sticks at once during the solo and also acting out other fancy behaviors.

I would love to have been present at the second part of this show where they perform one killer version after the other of suchs classics as Power & The Glory, Princess Of The Night, Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law, 20.000 Feet and Denim And Leather.

This is a very good introduction to Saxon if you are not yet a fan, and it yet also contains pretty good material for the already initiated. The bonusmaterial is of decent quality and interesting, but doesn't justify this calling itself a chronicle over their career as it only scrapes on the surface. The interviews are good, and a lot of interesting and funny facts are revealed by Biff Byford as well as videoclips and tv appearances of various quality and facts on the band and their over 20 year long journey in the name of Metal.

There are not many bands that overcome what Saxon can deliver on a very sharp night, and this is a good proof. This is well worth it's money, and it is honorable that this double dvd filled with classy material doesn't cost much more that the average dvd in general.

See also review of: Thunderbolt , Battering Ram , Warriors Of The Road - The Saxon Chronicles Part II , St. George's Day Sacrifice - Live In Manchester , Unplugged And Strung Up , Sacrifice , Heavy Metal Thunder: Live , Into The Labyrinth , Lionheart , Heavy Metal Thunder: Live DVD

Production
Vocals
Compositions

8,5

7,5

8

 
Summary



8 chalices of 10 - Tommy

Related links:

www.saxon747.com