I wish more bands were like Saxon and by that I do not mean playing pure Heavy Metal, but having the same spirit and dedication for their craft. They are not far from completing 50 years of musical existence. To put that into perspective, it is a career with duration similar to Iron Maiden, Metallica and Judas Priest. “Hell, …” marks their 25th studio album release, which in rough numbers, means on average they give us new music in less than 2 years each time. I admit that there is not much differentiation from album to album, but the same goes for their quality, to the point that when I am to revisit any part of their discography I suffer from choice paralysis. Lastly, some of the members are in their seventies, meaning they have the experience of a 70 years old, but don’t be mistaken, they also come with the energy of a 20 years old. So yes, we can safely say that Saxon have rightfully earned their place as one the most important Heavy Metal bands of all time, and they preserve that legacy more than adequately.

On to the new music now, we are presented with 9 classic Heavy Metal songs, period. Biff shows no signs of tiring and at one time or two we even hear a high pitched scream. For the music part, expect only sharp cutting riffs and amazing solos. There is no distinction in quality between the faster or slower moments, for example the more mid tempo Madame Guillotine makes you want to headbang the same as the faster Kubla Khan. The record has a great flow throughout and I cannot praise that consistency enough.

Is there a catch or is everything as good as it sounds? I will say yes and no. No, because “Hell…” is everything Saxon’s fans could ask from them, I believe everyone will be very happy with this release. Yes, since depending on how often Saxon’s music accompanies you, you may end up listening to it a couple of times and then stop revisiting. The album for non core Saxon-fans falls into the category of “you will clearly enjoy it” when you play it, but will not lose your sleep over it.

But this matters little if any at all. Saxon gives us perhaps one the best Heavy Metal albums of the year before it even starts, if all other bands give us music of the same caliber then we will be talking about a glorious 2024. And unlike the releases of their contemporaries, “Hell…” will not occupy a spot in both “best” and “worst” albums of the year. No, all fans agree that it is only the “best” category for Saxon. Time to recover those patched leather jackets and enjoy Heavy Metal at its best.