Saxon - Strong Arm Of The Law (1980)

Strong Arm of the Law was the third album from Barnsley’s finest and, following on the heels of their real breakthrough album Wheels of Steel, proved to be a big hit, reaching number 11 in the mainstream UK charts and attaining Gold status. As the second in a triumvirate of studio albums that would see Saxon at the peak of their popularity – and I would argue quality of material – Strong Arm of the Law had a lot to live-up to and fortunately came up trumps! On their day, Saxon excelled in writing no-frills metal anthems much in the Judas Priest mould of no-messin’ ballsy rock and this album is no exception.

Opening with the frantic Heavy Metal Thunder, the album gets off to a great start with Biff Byford insisting the listener to “fill your hearts with heavy metal thunder”. Whilst all a bit clichéd, especially with the benefit of hindsight, it’s a real kick in the teeth track with buzzing guitars and pounding drums, with Biff putting in all the high pitched wails you’d expect: as ‘traditional’ heavy metal goes, this is a pretty good blueprint!

To Hell and Back Again is up next and is again an up-tempo track with a squealing guitar solo over the intro and carries you along – well it does me anyway – on a tide of powerful chugging rhythm guitar and Biff Byford’s ‘rock archetype’ vocals which ably combine melody with all the wails and gruff moments synonymous with the genre. Another good point about Saxon back in their early days was the guitar work of Graham Oliver who tended to avoid the temptation to ’shred’ – always an urge when soloing over a fast number – in favour of melodic yet powerful solos: something evident throughout this album.

The title track opens with feedback and a shuffling bass which leads into a bluesy rock riff for a strong boogie number. Again, there’s power here but Byford and Oliver inject enough melody to give the track a distinctive edge.

Taking Your Changes is back to up-tempo fare as is 20,000ft – definite head banging material if that’s what you’re after . . . and indeed I was back in the day! The power and intensity doesn’t abate with Hungry Years: although we’re back to a slower shuffle feel, Byford is working at the top of his range and the twin guitar work of Oliver and Quinn motors proceeding along nicely until things pick up tempo once more for Sixth Form Girls.

The real standout track of the album closes the album – definitely saving the best ’til last. Dallas 1PM is the band telling the tale of JFK’s assassination in 1963 and is both an emotional number and a real rocker. Whilst the concept might sound a little trite, lyrically the song works very well and carries you along with the story over a throbbing bassline and riff. One of the highlights is the lengthy guitar solo from Oliver mid-way through the track which demonstrates above all others on the album hi innate ability for melodic soloing and thus carries as much, if not more, emotional weight than Byford’s lyrical delivery.

I have to confess I’d forgotten quite how much I liked this album, and just how good it was, until re-listening to it for this review. Whilst the band went on to make some rather, shall we say, disappointing albums a little later in the career – in part trying to jump on the bandwagon of the ‘hair metal’ commercialism of the late 80s – this album reflects Saxon for what they were, a powerful and melodic heavy metal band – nothing more, nothing less and bless ‘em for it!

• Biff Byford – Vocals
• Graham Oliver – Guitar
• Paul Quinn – Guitar
• Steve Dawson – Bass
• Pete Gill – Drums