Thunderbolt (Tour Edition)
Silver Lining, 2018
8/10
Few bands will ever have careers as lengthy or esteemed as Britain’s Saxon, who have consistently put out top notch metal records since 1979. Thunderbolt, their 22nd album, brings the icons together on a classic heavy metal listen, and this tour edition even offers some surprises for longtime fans.
After the opening of the ominous and atmospheric “Olympus Rising”, the album bursts into the riff heavy and charged “Thunderbolt”, where a quick pace is anchored by melodic and raw singing with the occasional guitar solo.
Closer to the middle, “They Played Rock And Roll”, which is dedicated to Motorhead, finds the band entering full throttle ‘80s metal with a fiery rhythm section aligned with gruff yet funeful vocals, while the throbbing “Predator” recruits some darker, growling vocals amid a mosh friendly setting. “Sniper”, the album highlight, then displays incredible drumming in an anthemic and memorable delivery.
Near the end, “Roadies’ Song” unleashes incredible guitar work in one of the most melodic tracks, and this Tour Edition exits with pair of live tracks bookending the record, with “Thunderbolt” being the best selection, which captures the band’s contagious live energy well with incredible sound quality.
Though they may not be as recognizable a name as Def Leppard or Iron Maiden, Saxon were part of the new wave of British heavy metal that began in the late ‘70s, and this fluid, hard hitting and timeless record proves that they haven’t slowed down one bit in their thriving existence.
Travels well with: Balls Gone Wild- High Roller; Thobbe Englund- Hail To The Priest