Saxon was very prolific in the early days as this was their second release in 1980.  They released Wheels of Steel four months prior to this record, and both are considered classics.  You have to remember that the NWOBHM was in full swing by this point with Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Diamond Head all releasing their debut albums.  This was actually my first taste of the mighty Saxon and I have never looked back since.  There is something special about this early material that still stands the test of time.  The band plays each track like their lives depended on it, and each one of the eight tunes has a sense of urgency about it.  I feel it was at this point that Saxon was finally hitting their stride and really honing “their” sound.  I liken it to Judas Priest because Rocka Rolla sounded like a band trying to figure out who they were and Saxon’s self-titled debut had the same lack of focus.  Their previous record Wheels of Steel cemented things like Sad Wings of Destiny did for Priest, and Strong Arm of the Law just built on top of that sound.  While I like every song on this album, I can honestly say half the album consists or NWOBHM classics, and every self-respecting metal fan should own it.  As a side note, the tracks are being reviewed in the order they were presented on the original UK version.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021  Volume 2. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.