Saxon , in recording Denim and Leather , certainly created one of those albums on lists that rank the most essential heavy metal albums. This album is undoubtedly recommended for anyone wishing to begin their journey into the world of heavy music.
Released on October 5, 1981, the British band's fourth studio album arrived at a time when the New Wave Of The British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was in full swing. Bands like Iron Maiden , Judas Priest , and Saxon themselves were gaining notoriety and space in the music scene outside the United Kingdom, further boosting the movement.
The album marked the end of the band's classic lineup , which consisted of Biff Byford (vocals), Paul Quinn (guitar), Graham Oliver (guitar), Steve Dawson (bass), and Pete Gill (drums).
Furthermore, it was the last album Gill , as the drummer left the group due to an injury. To fill his place, Nigel Glocker joined the band, and remains to this day.
The opening track is simply “Princess of The Night,” which is widely considered the band's greatest classic. With an iconic chorus and riffs that thrill all fans, it sets the album's energy right from the start.
In “Never Surrender”, we find traditional heavy metal in its purest essence. The riff is heavy and fast, while the chorus is incredibly catchy. Tracks like “Out of Control”, “Rough and Ready” and “Play it Loud” are also excellent compositions that integrate masterfully into the album's tracklist.
Next up, we have another classic, “And the Bands Played on.” The song is fast-paced, to the point, and a beautiful tribute to the Monsters of Rock festival. For many years, it was the opening song for the band's shows.
“Midnight Rider” is a great B-side, which talks about the band's journey in the United States on the 1980 tour. Although the track has more hard rock leanings, we can also notice the traditional heavy metal influences. “Fire in the Sky” is reminiscent of Motörhead at certain points in the track.
We arrive at the closing with the title track, which shares the album's name. "Denim and Leather" is a tribute to all the fans who went to shows wearing jeans and leather jackets. Furthermore, the song also describes the growth of the NWOBHM in the 80s. With a more measured tempo, the catchy chorus says that the clothing "brought us all together".
Denim and leather is essential to the genre.
The album is undoubtedly a heavy metal classic. It features doubled guitars, great melodies, and heaviness, not to mention Biff Byford 's powerful vocals , which also deserve special mention. Therefore, every fan of heavy music and Saxon should have Denim and Leather in their collection.
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