SAXON — Wheels of Steel (review)

SAXON — Wheels of Steel album cover Album · 1980 · NWoBHM Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Unitron
"Fighting through the night!"

Wheels of Steel is commonly known as the first of a masterpiece trilogy of albums that include this, Strong Arm of the Law, and Denim and Leather, and not without good reason. While their debut was a decent foot in the door of music recording, Wheels of Steel expands upon the sound of the best songs of the debut. Right from opener Motorcycle Man, it's obvious that the band chose to truly become Stallions of the Highway.

Stand Up and Be Counted (Funnily enough there would be a Krokus song a few years later called Stand and Be Counted, Krokus being a band that reminds me of Saxon a bit), 747-Strangers in the Night, the swaggering title track, the roaring closer Machine Gun, and my personal favorite Street Fighting Gang all display the perfect Saxon sound. It's raucous and raw with tons of kickass attitude yet melodic and majestic as well. Biff Byford in particular is one of metal's finest frontmen, there's great riffs aplenty, but Byford's commanding vocal performance takes everything to even greater heights.

I think the following three albums are my favorites, but Wheels of Steel kicked this legendary band's career into full gear and is a bonafide metal classic.
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