statcat

I've been listening to Saxon a bit lately and like most of their material. Why didn't these guys go further and become more popular? It seems like everywhere I read they're described as influential but underrated.

B5Erik

I've been a big Saxon fan for years. Their classic material was a great Hard Rock/Boogie/Metal hybrid, while their stuff from about 1990 onward was really good straightforward Heavy Metal.

Biff and the boys have put out a lot of very good to great albums over the years. Their style just never seemed to click in the U.S. (radio programmers didn't seem to buy in to the idea that Saxon's songs would fit in well with their playlists, and touring only got them a cult following).

Still, they were (and still are) a great band.

Some examples...

Classic Saxon
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vwPLExWJifA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></iframe><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tCZxGG_4ins" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>
<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lOcRut2UM9g" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PIFusFo0TNU" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>

Later Saxon
<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bWKPHIFpi1g" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vudHl-cE32s" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>
<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9zFECay1HsA" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xp6ugQ4Lb98" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>

statcat

I thought this would of had potential to be a US hit.

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Trout

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nodeerforamonth

I hope to get the "Heavy Metal Thunder" movie for my birtday....

Hokeyboy

The only album I ever had of theirs was "Wheels of Steel" (on vinyl, WAAAAY back when). I loved the holy hell outta it, but never listened to any of their other work. Don't know why. Odd. I'm gonna have to take a look at more of their material.

JOE29

I like Saxon too. I'm glad they didn't hit it big in the US. Then producers would of changed them to make more money off of them. Right Def Leppard? They're fine just how they are.

statcat

probably right, producers can change a band. ac/dc for instance lost some of the raw edge when they weren't working with Vanda and Young anymore.

GuessWho

Gotta love a band that covers Christopher Cross

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BearFan

Real solid band, I saw them play in the mid 80s in a club somewhere in Houston ... I have a few of their records which I might need to give a spin again.

boc4ever

I loved the video for "Broken Heroes" but I thought most of the other videos/songs I saw were a bit too cliche for me.

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B5Erik

They have yet another album coming out, Battering Ram, and if the title track is any indication it's going to be another really good straightforward, old school Heavy Metal album...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2oLC0nOfWGc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>