Are either 'Saxon' or 'Riot' worth exploring?

[SoundMaster]

I've been into metal for years & years, and both of these bands have fallen under my radar.

I've read many great things about both, over the years, but haven't heard much (if any) of either.

Is anyone here a fan of either band? If so, can you describe their music and a release, or two, worth buying?

thanks.

 

[Wyvern]

You MUST get Saxon and Riot. Fundamental bands in rock history, and still kicking.

Get Saxon (more or less in this order):

"Power & The Glory"
"Crusader"
"Killing Ground"
"Unleash The Beast"
"Strong Arm Of The Law"
"Wheels Of Steel"
"Dogs Of War"
"Denim & Leather"
"Innocence Is No Excuse"
"Solid Ball Of Rock"
"Rock The Nations"
"Saxon"
"Forever Free"
"Metalhead"
"Destiny"

And next month (mandatory) "Lionheart" the new album.

As for Riot (more or less in this order):

"Thundersteel"
"Fire Down Under"
"Sons Of Society"
"Brethern Of The Long House"
"Inishmore"
"Nightbreaker"
"Privilege Of Power"
"Rock City"
"Throught The Storm"

I'm not familiar with "Restless Breed" and "Born In America" but I'm sure people here can give you data. As for "Narita" is OOP and impossible to get unless Japanese on e-BAy and very expensive (as CD).

Musically speaking Saxon is pure, uncomprimised, traditional NWOBHM. Maybe (IMO) the best band of the movement. Always working since its inception, some lineup changes, but keeping the metal alive and pure all these years.

As for Riot is one of the most underrated bands in rock history. Coming from NY, USA, Riot started playing hard rock with passion and power (just hear 'Warrior' from their debut 1977), and through changes and times on hold has progress to a power metal, and to a heavy classic metal band but always keeping in touch with the bluesy feeling of hard rock.

Did I forgot something?

 

[madcheese9377]

What he said^. I'll be checking these guys out as well, I never heard of some of these albums I didn't know they had so many. Thanks Wyvern.

 

[Big D]

Can't speak for Riot as I only own a couple of albums but for any fan of proper Heavy Metal Saxon should be investigated. A 'Best of' might be a good place to start. Failing that I would recommend 'Denim and Leather'. And if you ever get the chance to see them check them out. Biff Byford and his boys are awesome live.

 

[Psychonaut]

I'm not familiar with Riot but I will definately recommend Saxon. Their early stuff was great but they took a bit of a lull (except I liked Destiny) and lately they've released two amazing albums, Killing Ground and Lionheart.

 

[Greeno]

Wyvern covered all the bases on this one.

I was also late getting into these 2 bands, but once I picked up an album from each I was hooked, had to track it all (most) down. So stop waysting time and check them out... I bet you'll be happy you did.

 

[SickBoy]

Psychonaut and Big D, you both recommend Saxon and say you haven't heard much Riot... WELL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Soundmaster, both bands are very much recommended, just as Wyvern wrote! I like Riot much more, though...
They're one of my Top10 bands of all time.
They went thru different phases during their long music journey, but were outstanding in every single one of them! If you dig Whitesnake, Rainbow and similar hard rock legends (both in guitar and vocal department), yet you're a metalhead in heart, there's no band that combines hard and heavy better than Riot! Inishmore and Sons of Society prove the point in the best manner.
May I also point out that these guys are incredible players, both feeling- and technique-wise.
The two albums Wyvern didn't comment (Restless Breed and Born in America) are very good, especially Breed. Rhett Forester (RIP) did the vocals on both releases and he has a great OLDSCHOOL bluesy raspy voice.
That applies for Mike DiMeo (1993-present) as well, with the difference that Mike's a bit more sofisticated singer with a powerful and soulful voice, with tons of Coverdale and Rodgers references. (a bit of trivia: Mike was supposed to sing in Deep Purple before Battle... album came out, but the record company bosses figured it'd be better to assemble Mk.2 lineup and brought Gillan back to the fold.)
Tony Moore is the total opposite type of singer, he's a high-pitched screamer and suits the band perfectly in their heaviest Thundersteel - Privilege... era.

Narita is really expensive to buy on CD on eBay (25$+) but you can find it for much less on LP (if you have a record player, of course), I've seen them go for a few bucks. Alternately, there's always SoulSeek or some other form of mp3 sharing client to find it.

OT: did anyone listen to Faith And Fire? It's Tony Moore's and Mike Flyntz's band, the song samples I downloaded from their site are very Riotish (imagine that... ) and sound awesome!

 

[delize]

""Strong Arm Of The Law"
"Power & The Glory"
"Wheels Of Steel"

 

[Fangface]

Saxon are awesome... but Riot had even more potential, what a shame they didn't achieve success.

My Saxon recommandations would be :
Wheels Of Steel
Denim & Leather
Strong Arm Of The Law
Unleash The Beast
Killing Ground
Innocence Is No Excuse (more "mainstream" but I like it)

And the Riot ones :

Narita!!!!
Privilege Of Power (so underrated)
Thundersteel
Fire Down Under
Brethern Of The Long House
Inishmore
Nightbreaker

 

[SickBoy]

Saxon are awesome... but Riot had even more potential, what a shame they didn't achieve success.

My opinion exactly

Privilege Of Power (so underrated)

That is SOOO TRUE!
Many people tend to dismiss this album just because it contains somewhat weird (but great!) brass lines, but they just spice the album for me. Brass on Killer is hilarious, in a good way, of course...

 

[SoundMaster]

Thanks for all of the recommendations, people!

I think I'll dive into one CD for each band....but no "best ofs". They never do justice.

Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember a Saxon video played on MTV's headbangers specials in the mid 80s.....I remember an episode hosted by Bruce Dickinson in which he was walking the streets of a major city (not sure where) handing out vinyl copies of "live After Death"!

Anyway, they played a video from Saxon where the chorus was "Where Are They Now....". I remember then thinking it was a good tune.

 

[Wyvern]

Anyway, they played a video from Saxon where the chorus was "Where Are They Now....". I remember then thinking it was a good tune.

That's 'Broken Heroes' (first track side-B on the vinyl ) from "Innocence Is No Excuse", one of my fav tunes from that album.

They came to fight for glory in their thousands
Young men with their dreams
They died before the guns for their country
A book of faded pictures, broken dreams

Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes

Uncle Sam is waiting with the draft card
He says you've got to fight the Vietcong
The stations full of flags and rule Britannia
The engine pulls you out towards the Somme

Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes

Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes

The pipes are calling young men back to Belfast
The general says you march to Stalingrad
You rode into the valley with the hundred
Seven lonely graves on Goose Green

Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes

Where are they now

 

[Fangface]

"Broken Heroes" should be mentionned in the anthems/ballad thread Wonderful song.

 

[The saYer]

read my avatar

 

[SoundMaster]

I've been checking out some 30 second samples on Amazon, and I must say, Saxon's vocalist (Biff?) sounds alot like Blaze Bayley!


Or, shall I say, Blaze sounds alot like him!

The music reminds me of AC/DC...and not very 'metallic'. I was expecting something more akin to "Hell Bent For Leather" Priest, or Dio era Rainbow.

I still think I'll check them out.....an early record, and, perhaps "Killing Ground". I've read many reviews where people claim it's as good as, or even better than, their classic era stuff.

There's a "package" set that consists of both "Wheels of Steel" and "Strong Arm", along with 6 live bonus cuts. I may give this one a whirl!

 

[Wyvern]

I've been checking out some 30 second samples on Amazon, and I must say, Saxon's vocalist (Biff?) sounds alot like Blaze Bayley!


Or, shall I say, Blaze sounds alot like him!

Don't say that or Abryl will stop hearing Saxon

The music reminds me of AC/DC...and not very 'metallic'. I was expecting something more akin to "Hell Bent For Leather" Priest, or Dio era Rainbow.

Hmm, dunno what you have been cheking, and of course everything is in the ear of the beholder but I don't found any resemblance between AC/DC and Saxon, except maybe towrads the first album. Because by the second, the guys already toured with Motorhead and were definitively not like AC/DC.

 

[Hawk]

The song "Wheels of steel" sounds a bit like AC/CD. Its the riff.

 

[Wicked Child]

Just get for Saxon: Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law, Denim And Leather, Killing Ground and next month Lionheart, and for Riot: Fire Downunder, Thundersteel,Sons Of Society and Inishmore and you'll be golden. I must warn you, Inishmore is more Rainbow-ish, than the Priest-isms of Fire Down Under and Thundersteel.