The name Saxon evokes a fistful of Metal memories, denim, leather, fast engines and headbanging heaven. ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ is a wonderful Rock ‘N’ Roll time capsule from when Heavy Metal bands from across the world dreamed of playing West London’s iconic Hammersmith Odeon let alone recording a live album there. Saxon’s longevity can be directly linked to their live prowess and thirty-six years on from this booming, forty thousand watts of power release Saxon remain a healthy live draw. Recorded during the 1981 European tour the 2018 edition also includes six bonus tracks lifted the bands London live home, Hammersmith Odeon between 1981-2. Show starter ‘Motorcycle Man’ is preceded by the throttle roaring backing track that, if you close your eyes, would have been aligned with that magical time when the hairy roadies finally stop say “check, check 1-2, 1-2” and the house lights finally go down. On ‘747 (Strangers In The Night)’ you can literally smell the stale beer, linament and Rothmans, it is and will always be a Metal monster. The opening riff to ‘Princess Of The Night’ gives way to motoring, clap-a-long classic while ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’ nostalgically kicks the Tommy Vance Friday night Rock show memories, simpler times indeed. Frontman Biff ‘The Barnsley Big Teaser’ Byford vocal capabilities land somewhere between Dickinson and Lemmy with the perfect 80’s Metal balance of power and note holding ability. Both ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ and ‘20,000 FT’ are overtaken by the timeless ‘Wheels Of Steel’ that is pretty much a “cruising down the freeway, I don’t get no lips” tyre puncturing perfection. The trio of ‘Never Surrender’, ‘Fire In The Sky’ and ‘Machine Gun’ complete the original release before we start over again with (my personal Saxon fave) the Donnington ditty ‘The Bands Played On’. ‘Frozen Rainbow’, Dallas 1 pm’ and ‘Hungry Years’ finish this impressive trip down the Goldhawk memory lane. Proper paper tickets, three TV channels, Top Of The Pops, Minder, back patches, on stage lycra, last orders, oil-stained jeans, pint pots, a wonderfully toxic fug of cigarette smoke and Saxon playing live at Hammersmith Odeon, good times.
SAXON
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
(BMG)
“See the people feel the power, just like thunder the crowd began to roar.”
8/10