Review by Shezma for Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law (1980)
First thought listening to this album was, I wish I was driving because this feels like a solid road trip album. Unfortunately it's too damn cold and icy at the moment for the full experience but I may have to try again with this once it warms up to try it out. I had a good time, but unfortunately nothing stood out to me. I feel this is more of a 3.75 record, but not quite a 4 star so.. 3.5 it gets. I see the love, but it just feels like a good time. Not one of those I'm going to keep coming back to this party but I will have have nothing negative to say about it when trying to reminisce but also won't have any specific moments to reflect back on for me. The hooks are fun, good solos, good dance-able headbanging beats, and I even enjoy his unique voice but even listening again for something to stick out to talk about positive or negative I just really can't find specifics. I feel if I listened to this enough I would be able to sing along to every song while I am on that aforementioned road trip and then immediately forget the lyrics as soon as it ended until I turned it on again.
Anyone else have those albums, that you've listened to more than you realize but when trying to explain or talk about the album it just completely leaves your thoughts until it shows up in your playlist or disc collection to be put on again to then just be put back in it's sleeve for the next spring cleaning? I have a few that unless you pointed out and we agreed to put it on I would have forgotten what it even is. I've listened to Saxon a handful of times over their near 45 year discography and still have that positive emotional reaction but couldn't tell you anything they've done. Sorry guys, too much metal but this is still a good time.