SAXON – Solid Book Of Rock; Disc 9 Lionheart +1 [Rough Mix] (2017)

British legends SAXON have released “Solid Book Of Rock“, a massive 14-disc deluxe set that delivers an enormous amount of audio and video material packaged in a large format 12″ x 12″ book with a new cover painting is by Paul R. Gregor. The mammoth box contains 3 DVD and all 9 studio albums issued by Saxon between 1991 and 2009.
Do you need this box? I don’t think so, because none of the albums have been remastered, but… there’s 2 extra discs worthwhile for collectors and hard rock / metal fans in general.
One of these is “Lionheart – rough studio mix“, which was originally put out on the 2006 limited edition of Lionheart.

What you get here is unapologetic, heavy-handed British metal class, with great metal songs and just the right amount of oomph, without any attempts at being something the band is not.
Highlights include righteously rockin’ opener “Witchfinder General”, one of those ‘we’re back’ salvos, a strong statement of intent from a band primed to kick ass.

The title track just drips pure English classic metal, its stately tempo echoing a gravity befitting the band’s years.
And who can deny the NWOBHM riff of “English Man’o’War”, a storming rocker with a celebratory air, punctuated by Byford’s phlegmatic, yet upbeat verse.
As bonus track you have here the single version o “Beyond The Grave”, pretty impossible to find these days.

This “Lionheart – rough studio mix”, as its title states, it’s less polished than the final version released. In many ways, it works better, because it feels more direct, like the Saxon of the early ’80s.
Is all that enough to make you buy the quite expensive box “Solid Book Of Rock”? That’s your call, but if this granite slab of killer British metal isn’t in your collection now, you might kick in the extra bucks and have this nice version.
Strongly Recommended

01 – Witchfinder General
02 – Man And Machine
03 – The Return
04 – Lionheart
05 – Beyond The Grave
06 – Justice
07 – To Live By The Sword
08 – Jack Tars
09 – English Man O’War
10 – Searching For Atlantis
11 – Flying On The Edge
Bonus Track:
12 – Beyond The Grave (Single Version)

Biff Byford – vocals
Paul Quinn – guitar
Doug Scarratt – guitar
Nibbs Carter – bass, keyboards
Jörg Michael – drums
Chris Stubley – keyboards on “Lionheart”

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Solid-Book-Rock-Deluxe-Boxset/dp/B071WPBST3
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