Ok now that the history lesson is out of the way lets get on with this review.
Album Cover: 5/5
The cover art for this album is Epic especially if you own the original LP pressing (which I do). The cover features the now classic Saxon logo with the stylized S so as to take the form of two battle axe heads under which the album name appears. The actual image of the gleaming Crusaders towering over the impaled corpses of the "Pagans and the Saracens" is truly Metal and the oil painting appearance just makes it that much more kick ass.
Songs: 4/5
This album really shows the Epic side of Saxon and for all you fans of Wheels of Steel they keep the hard hitting riffs and bass lines they perfected on their second outing. This album has it's fair share of memorable songs Sailing to America, Rock City, and Run for Your Life to name a few. Though the real stand out hear is the title track Crusader which even has it's own Prelude featuring the thunderous charge and war caries of the Crusaders as they ride into battle.
Overall: 4/5
This is one of Saxons more solid album of the later 80's (thing only went down hill form here). Though one of this albums major flaws is that the Title Track set the bar so high that some songs (A Little Bit of what You Fancy and Bad Boys (Like To Rock and Roll)come to mind) kinda fall a little flat in comparison and still other just sound out of place (Do It All For You), but I digress if your a fan of NWOBHM bands of just a metal fan in general you should definably give this album a listen.
Track List:
1.The Crusader Prelude
2.Crusader
3.A Little Bit Of What You Fancy
4.Sailing To America
5.Set Me Free
6.Just Let Me Rock
7.Bad Boys (Like To Rock N' Roll)
8.Do It All For You
9.Rock City
10.Run For Your Lives
Saxon is epic.
ReplyDeleteAwesome reviews.