I have been a longtime fan of Saxon and followed their rise since 1980. My first record was Wheels Of Steel, and I have never hated one of their releases. Going back to the summer of 1983, I played this record constantly, and they were one of my favorites at the time. Looking back, Saxon seemed to have reached a level with Power & The Glory. Their earlier records were great, but this one seemed to have all the right pieces to make it an instant classic. I know many regard their two previous discs as the “classic” era, but for me Saxon somehow managed to create a record that was a couple of rungs up the heavy metal ladder with this one. Such is the strength of this record that three of the tunes remained in their set lists for years to come. I always recommend this album to anyone who is looking to get into Saxon, as it is a great place to start.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2020  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2020.

The record starts off with the title track that immediately goes for the jugular with an unforgettable riff. Two years earlier, the band went with something more pedestrian in “Denim And Leather.” But now they were opening something much more majestic. This metal classic starts off the album in fine form.