Izvajalec: Saxon
Založba: SPV Records
Izid: 1993
Ocena: 2.5/5
The band’s comeback with “Solid Ball Of Rock” gave them wings, and the steel eagle took flight again in 1991. “Forever Free” was the logical next step on that road back, following the aforementioned “Solid Ball Of Rock”. The real Saxon sound of the first half of the eighties comes through on “Forever Free” even more. So the guys realized that you don’t mess around with your fans all over the world, and they poured all their musical energy into a tribute to the devoted, loyal fans they won in the first half of the eighties. “Forever Free” is exactly that, showing Saxon once again in their unmistakable, timeless one-of-a-kind glory.
The opening title track confirms it right away. Once again we can just revel in the killer riffs. Besides the opener, they show up mostly in songs like “Hole In The Sky”, “Get Down And Dirty”, “One Step Away”, “Nighthunter” or “Cloud Nine”. Wooow!
The rock’n’roll romp “Just Wanna Make Love To You”, which is a cover, blends perfectly into the whole record, and here the band gives us a special reminder of where their roots lie.
The record delivers what fans of the band and this kind of music can only wish for. Total sincerity. The guys (every last one of them) once again nailed their parts with heart, led of course by Byff’s immortal vocals. The music is full and alive. Once again we get fantastic transitions from a deep rhythm line, which really stands out in the classic song endings too, along with, once again, the one-of-a-kind, witty work of both guitarists. Judging by its title, “Iron Wheels” is anything but wound up. It’s an excellent acoustic ballad that splits the record into two onslaughts.
Two bonus tracks have been added to the remaster, live recordings from the band’s tours in 1994 and 1995. What more could you want? The first is the indestructible “Princess Of The Night”, which is still part of the eagle’s iron repertoire today, and the second is “Forever Free”. The recordings are incredibly alive and haven’t been through any special touching up. They simply confirm the eternity of a band that radiates a one-of-a-kind energy on stage too.
Line-up
Biff Byford – vocals
Paul Quinn – guitar
Graham Oliver – guitar
Nibbs Carter – bass guitar
Nigel Glockler – drums
Production
Biff Byford & Herwig Ursin
Track list
1.Forever Free (4:57)
2.Hole In The Sky (4:42)
3.Just Wanna Make Love To You (3:54)
4.Get Down And Dirty (5:05)
5.Iron Wheels (4:12)
6.One Step Away (4:57)
7.Can’t Stop Rockin’ (4:03)
8.Nighthunter (3:22)
9.Grind (4:23)
10.Cloud Nine (4:36)
BONUS TRACKS ON THE 2002 REMASTERED EDITION:
11. Princess OF The Night (live) (5:15)
12.Forever Free (live) (4:48)
Album length: 54:35
