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SAXON
(UNITED KINGDOM)
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SOLID BALL OF ROCK
(1990)
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LABEL:
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GENRE:
HARD ROCK
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TAGS:
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"Without reaching the level of the must-have albums of their early career, Saxon rises from the ashes with "Solid Ball Of Rock", an opus full of refreshing enthusiasm and energy."
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4/5
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"Solid Ball Of Rock" is the story of an arrival, that of Nibbs Carter, a young bassist who briefly played with Fastway and was hired by Saxon in 1988 for the tour that followed "Destiny", and of the return of Nigel Glockler on drums after his escapade with GTR, and above all of the band itself, which had gradually disappeared over several albums, losing its soul along the way as it tried too hard to conquer America. And it was the arrival of Nibbs Carter that seems to have been responsible for the resurrection of the NWOBHM legend.
Credited on 8 tracks, including 5 written by himself (6 if we take into account the short instrumental "Bavarian Beaver"), the young bassist brings a freshness and energy that we thought Saxon had lost. We owe him, for example, the scathing "Altar Of The God" or "Baptism Of Fire", sublime adrenaline discharges on the edge of speed, the likes of which Saxon haven't offered since "Power And The Glory". But, not content with imposing his mark on his first studio appearance with his glorious elders, Carter is also capable of blending in with the legend led by Byford and Quinn, unleashing an AC/DC riff on "I'm On Fire" or a "Cash Dive" with its roots in the original NWOBHM.
Reinvigorated by their new recruit, Saxon return to their traditional strengths, namely a clever mix of hard-hitting tracks led by Glockler's hyper-dynamic playing ("Lights In The Sky"), direct and effective anthems with simple riffs and irresistible choruses ("Solid Ball Of Rock", "I Just Can't Get Enough"), and even a few elements retained from their FM period. The Quinn/Oliver pair give it their all, riffing and soloing with infectious enthusiasm, while Biff, in top shape, imposes his characteristic vocals and charisma, particularly on the darker "Ain't Gonna Take It", with its superb acoustic break, or on the mid-tempo "Overture In B Minor - Refugee", with its palpable sadness.
Without reaching the level of the must-have albums of their early career, Saxon nonetheless rises from the ashes, raises the bar and bulges its chest once again, making "Solid Ball Of Rock" a pivotal opus, synonymous with high hopes, and carrying a refreshing enthusiasm and energy. A winning comeback that reassures and puts a smile back on the faces of fans of the band and of melodic hard/metal in general. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Solid Ball Of Rock - 4:40
02. Altar Of The Gods - 3:42
03. Requiem (We Will Remember) - 5:18
04. Lights In The Sky - 4:07
05. I Just Can't Get Enough - 4:38
06. Baptism Of Fire - 3:13
07. Ain't Gonna Take It - 4:52
08. I'm On Fire - 4:23
09. Overture In B-Minor / Refugee - 5:38
10. Bavarian Beaver - 1:15
11. Crash Dive - 3:08
12. Requiem (We Will Remember) [Single Version] - 4:44
13. Reeperbahn Stomp [Bonus Track] - 3:26
LINEUP:
Biff Byford: Chant
Graham Oliver: Guitares
Nibbs Carter: Basse
Nigel Glockler: Batterie
Paul Quinn: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (4 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH SAXON
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LAST INTERVIEW
SAXON (DECEMBER 12, 2023)
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Having made the most of the present, Biff Byford and Saxon are wasting no time in promising us hell on this new delivery...
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT SAXON
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