I can tell you this…Saxon have made no sacrifices on their latest album (and haven’t) , in a long time. After 30 years of making music, their 19th album “Sacrifice”, sees the band hitting hard and heavy with ten headbangers. 2011’s “Call To Arms” was a strong collection of tunes, including elements from the 80s to more recent albums “Lionheart” and “Inner Sanctum”. But now “Sacrifice” opts for more metal and less variety.

Opening intro ‘Procession’ sets a nice eerie mood with those low end dramatic horns and gives the feel something powerful is to come as the title track immediately hits with vicious riffs juxtaposed Biff’s whisper of “sacrifice”. This album is totally in the vibe of the excellent slabs of metal, “Metalhead” and “Unleash The Beast”. What sounds a mandolin starts ‘Made In Belfast’ before more meaty riffs and mid tempo beat kicks in. Very nice. ‘Warriors Of The Road’ is your typical upbeat rocker, ‘Guardian Of The Tomb’ strangely (but it works) begins with a Symphony X type orchestrated feel, moves into new millennium -Maidenish leads, before switching into familiar Saxon metal groove. ‘Stand Up And Fight’ recalls 90s anthems like ‘Solid Ball of Rock’ and ‘Forever Free’ (which gets a needed upgrade on the bonus disc). Like the ominous riffing in ‘Walking The Steel’, the chunky riff and verse breaks in ‘Night of The Wolf’, and the throbbing bass/guitars, twin leads, completed by a wicked chorus line in ‘Wheels Of Terror’ makes these three a killer trilogy. ‘Standing In A Queue’ is a spirited AC/DC rocker.

Disc two includes an orchestrated version of the song ‘Crusader’ and re-recorded ‘Just Let Me Rock’ (which is average at best) also from “Crusader”. Acoustic versions of ‘Requiem’ from “Solid Ball Of Rock” and ‘Frozen Rainbow’ off the debut.

Saxon still got it and the double disc set, with a bonus track, is worth purchasing.