Albums that are BETTER...

Many of my favorites (that I too think are better than most say or believe they are) have been mentioned but I would also like to add the following Saxon albums:

1. Rock the Nations
2. Destiny and Innocence is No Excuse
3. Crusader


Rock the Nations:
From what I can tell, many dislike Rock the Nations and I can see why but in my eyes it's a very solid album - it doesn't quite live up to Saxon's first 4 - 5 albums (for that matter none of Saxon's other albums do) but it is at least as strong as Crusader.

Destiny and Innocence:
Both are often seen as some of the band's weakest albums because of their glam-infused sound. While I somewhat agree that the sleek production gives both albums a glam-like sound, I feel that the songs retain Saxon's signature sound albeit sounding more anthemic and perhaps even more epic at times than on some earlier albums.

Crusader:
This album is seen as the start of Saxon's commercial period with more accessible (read: anthemic / arena sounding songs). Perhaps it's my general love for 80s metal but the criticism about this album mystifies me. I do agree that it is not Saxon's most consistent album but there are nevertheless some really memorable tracks on here. Some I find too tongue-in-cheek even by Saxon's standards but overall the album is much better than the criticism it receives.

ROCK THE NATIONS is one of my fave SAXON albums. I like all the songs on it. DESTINY is cool too, and INNOCENCE and CRUSADER. I like all SAXON albums. The only ones i dont like very much are METALHEAD and LIONHEART.

The only Saxon album I do not care about much is Forever Free and that is not because of the songwriting but the production is so bad that nothing stands out. The title track is about the only song I remember on there.

Although the version I heard seems to be one of the first pressings of the album - is there a remastered version out there?

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

The only Saxon album I do not care about much is Forever Free and that is not because of the songwriting but the production is so bad that nothing stands out. The title track is about the only song I remember on there.

Although the version I heard seems to be one of the first pressings of the album - is there a remastered version out there?

I dont know if their is a remastered version of FOREVER FREE, i have the first pressing too, bought it when it came out. I liked it, and i think i still do. I didnt play it for many years, and to be honest, i only remember the title track too. I will have to play it today to check the cd out.

I am playing FOREVER FREE now, and its still a good album. Listen to HOLE IN THE SKY, with those nice ZAKK WILDE type of riffs (era NO REST FOR THE WICKED and NO MORE TEARS). Very cool. The cover song JUST WANNA MAKE LOVE TO YOU sounds okay. IRON WHEELS is a great ballad etc...not a bad album at all.

I'll have to re-listen to it again.

I have turned into a bit of a Saxon fanboy so it wouldn't surprise me if I end up liking this albums as much as some of my Saxon favorites.

By the same token, I used to not think much of Dogs of War but it's now an album that I find very enjoyable.

Mortification - The Silver Cord Is Severed. This album has been slagged pretty hard over the years but it is one my favorite Mort albums. People tend to always complain that a release is not this or that, but I thought it was a great modern metal album that sounded great and put new twist on the ever evolving Mort sound.

Living Sacrifice- The Hammering Process

While this is in no way as good as Reborn or the S/T, I still think that it is not as bad as a lot of folks say it is. There is a certain amount of metalcore influence but it still makes me want to get a pit going or will make me get a ticket if I don't set my cruise control because I start thrashing around in the car and have a heavy foot.

Storm_Rider89 wrote:

Oh and Helloween-Pink Bubbles go Ape and Chameleon

Totally agree about Pink bubbles

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Impellitteri - Pedal to the Metal ( I love this album dearly)

Good call on that one, if only I had read the posts before making mine I would have been able to include that in my list. I even like the song Punk which contains one of my favorite lyric lines regarding Eminem:

Read His Words
Watched 8 Mile
White Man Thinks
He's A Black Man's Child

One album that everyone seems to just loath is Soilwork's Stabbing the Drama.

I've listened to all the negativity about this album but I still do not understand it to this day. Some people just outright say it is a bad album without having even heard it - cause as it happens it is popular to hate anything these days.

However, I have given it a proper and real chance having listened to it several times over and if you're one of those people who kept putting off this album because of all the bad reviews you've been reading then just stop listening to what others have to say and check this album out because the naysayers have no idea what they're even talking about. Like I said it's popular to hate and be negative about almost anything these days on the Internet, and without exception if a band becomes even the slightest popular or improves their sound (yes I actually deem the stylistic change an improvement for Soilwork) then it suddenly becomes a contest about how can type the nastiest slur imaginable even if there is hardly any shroud of truth behind it.

I have always maintained that no matter what a review says, no matter how many opinions I may hear about a particular album, I am still the one who will finally decide if I like it or not. It's tempting to go with the crowd and just hate for the sake of hating but resist that temptation as much as you can.

For anyone who likes this style of music, check out Stabbing The Drama and shut the door on the naysayers.

I like Soilwork and have no problem with any of their albums, however, I think their best sound was on Natural Born Chaos and even better on Firgure Number Five. I like it when they slow it down a bit.

I agree Natural Born Chaos is their best.

I have to listen to Figure Number Five again as I don't remember that album too well.


But glad to see another Soilwork fan! With any luck I will see the band in October in Sydney.

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

I agree Natural Born Chaos is their best.

I have to listen to Figure Number Five again as I don't remember that album too well.


But glad to see another Soilwork fan! With any luck I will see the band in October in Sydney.

For me, the song Light The Torch off of FN5 is their best song (I also really love the music video for it, it is quite bizzare).

KISS - Songs from The Elder


I've noticed over the last few years that this album has sort of become a cult hit within KISS fandom. I actually purchased and listened to this album recently and LOVED it. One of my fav. albums in their entire catalog.

I can, however, understand the bewildered reaction to it during its original release. Noone expected KISS to be sophisticated concept rockers. KISS were always the over-the-top theatrical band that everyone listened to for loud guitars and pyrotechnics.

But then again, I'm from the more recent generation of KISS fans. I don't really have any particular expectations of what constitutes a KISS album.



Alice Cooper - Special Forces


Really unique New Wave-ish album in Alice's ouevre. "Clones" in particular is a really catchy tune. Love that banjo in the background. XD

Of course, one need only look at the cover image to see just how far Mr. Cooper had fallen healthwise. The man was thin as a rail. No wonder everyone says he looks so young even though he's in his early 60s. Back in those days he looked like he would keel over at any moment!

Angelcake Adonisus Fox wrote:

Alice Cooper - Special Forces


Really unique New Wave-ish album in Alice's ouevre. "Clones" in particular is a really catchy tune. Love that banjo in the background. XD

Of course, one need only look at the cover image to see just how far Mr. Cooper had fallen healthwise. The man was thin as a rail. No wonder everyone says he looks so young even though he's in his early 60s. Back in those days he looked like he would keel over at any moment!

good one!