Did we really need another Saxon covers album? The English metal legends are more than capable of releasing their own original music, and still doing an exceptional job at such. Hell, it was just last year that they released the brilliant Carpe Diem, which made it all the way up #4 on our Top 40 Albums of 2022 list. And from the sound of things, another original album will be here before we know it in 2024. So just as Inspirations held us over in the dog days of the pandemic until the release of Carpe Diem, here we find ourselves with the aptly titled More Inspirations to hold us over until untitled album #26.
For this covers outing, Saxon went deeper than they did on the first installation of this series. It’s these obscure moments that work most to their advantage. For example, take their cover of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s “The Faith Healer”. These days, very few outside of heavy 70s circles are even familiar with this cult artsy hard rock band, who influenced everybody from AC/DC and Celtic Frost, to Raven and, you guessed it, Saxon. Easily the highlight of this outing, Saxon’s take on “The Faith Healer” captures the darkness and drama of the original composition, but with an added, Saxonized 80s metal twist.
Other highlights include unique renditions of Alice Cooper’s “From the Inside” and ZZ Top’s “Chevrolet”. Saxon could’ve easily chosen bigger songs from each of these artists, but they went off the deep end, and I commend them for such. I’ve always been in the minority who LOVES From the Inside (1978), in all its pompous, coke fueled, David Foster produced glory. Saxon’s spin on the title track is a tad by the numbers, yet still highly enjoyable. Meanwhile, “Chevrolet” is an intriguing listen, if only to hear Saxon attempt their hand at down-south blues n’ boogie, and nailing it. It should come as no surprise that their renditions of The Who’s “Substitute” and Nazareth’s “Razamanaz” are also exactly spot on.
As for the rest of More Inspirations, the selections range from curious to unwarranted. Trouble’s cover of Cream’s “Tale of Brave Ulysses” remains undefeated, but Saxon’s is decent if only for hearing them attempt late 60s psychedelia outside of their self titled debut, which is about as rare as a double rainbow. And speaking of Rainbow, as much as I wanted to dig Saxon’s cover of “Man on the Silver Mountain”…eh. I just can’t hear any band, even one as profound as Saxon, attempting that song and coming close to the glory of Blackmore and Dio. These same feelings of discontent were felt during Uriah Heep’s “Gypsy” and KISS’s “Detroit Rock City”, both of which lacked key elements associated with the original arrangements.
I wouldn’t go so far to say More Inspirations is bad. It’s far more satisfying than Six Feet Under’s endless Graveyard Classics series, and most covers albums in general for that matter. However, I don’t see myself rushing to the record store in 2025 to pick up a copy of the inevitable Even More Inspirations. That is unless we’re treated to some insane curveballs like Saxon covering an early Cheap Trick tune (“He’s a Whore” anyone?), or even cooler yet, a Venom song (How about “Witching Hour”?). Hey, a man can dream!
6 out of 10
Label: Silver Lining Music
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Judas Priest, Uriah Heep, Nazareth