By Vinnie Apicella

Now how ironic is it that the new album features a song called "Travellers in Time?" No kidding! Talk about a charmed life… and one that's spanned now over three decades, the mighty Saxon return with the appropriately titled "Metal Head!" This band is a musical version of a rock and roll slot machine that continuously spits metal with each annual pull of the lever! Biff Byford and company, which at this point now features I believe one other original in Paul Quinn, just keep rolling along-like the "Iron Wheel" spoke of on another of their albums, they won't be brought down but they will effectively roll with life's punches doing their thing and apologizing to no one… faithful to the core-or just ignorant all the same, call 'em what you want, make fun of the singer's name or whatever, but they've upheld the metal tradition with the best of them! "Metal Head" possesses more of that gritty sound they had on '95's "Dogs of War" with a very explosive yet low key style most notably on the relentless guitar work that feeds the machine. The title track, ominously presented with fitting use of keyboard orchestrations, is vintage Saxon-pure rock, solid chorus and one due immediately to be placed alongside the best of their anthemic archives. "Are we Travellers in Time" has a modern vibe to it, where Byford's vocals get a futuristic enhancement while the rhythm structure remains firmly intact. As a matter of fact, the sound and style boasts a slightly newer feel in certain places like on "What Goes Around" which plods along with a chunky guitar opening, along with "Piss Off Bomb" which finds them fighting mad of course-Saxon gone hard-core? Not quite-the verse lays that to rest immediately but the fact is they're not sitting on their hands making the same album over and again though be assured the long standing tradition of Saxon's denim and leather roots haven't dried up and blown away-"Conquistador," "Song of Evil," "All Guns Blazing…" this one's easily one of the best along with the opener and "Prisoner," all surprisingly heavier than expected and more in line with their early '80s style. The closer "Sea of Life" is of the rare epic variety that carries on for over eight minutes and kinda follows the direction of the old "Crusader" from way back when-and it would seem even if a little battle hardened and weary, he's still up to fighting the good fight today! Taking it all into consideration, "Metal Head" is not better than Saxon's last studio disc "Unleash the Beast" from '97, as that one was their best work in about ten years. But this follows closely behind it in many aspects and boasts a broader range of versatility that shows an old dog doesn't need to learn so many new tricks to keep things fresh and deliver maximum output.

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