Continuing my way through the Saxon catalog with “Carpe Diem”, which was the bands twenty third studio album. The album was again produced by Andy Sneap and charted in fifteen different countries including several US charts for the first time in several years. There were four videos released from the album on the bands YouTube channel including
“Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)”, “Remember the Fallen”, “The Pilgrimage”, and “Black Is the Night”. Another really solid Saxon album that I kind of forgot about how good it is.
“Carpe Diem(Seize the Day)” –
Good upbeat opening track and a solid song but maybe not quite on the level of other Saxon openers but still very good. It takes a minute to get going with a long instrumental section of drums and keyboard atmosphere and then kicks in. About taking advantage of being alive and living every day to its fullest but also inspired by the Biff’s survival of a heart attack and health issues.
“Age of Steam” – Fast paced and very good track with good guitars. About the Industrial Revolution era.
“The Pilgrimage” – A slower more melodic build to the chorus. A very epic feel with some great guitar solos in the middle section. About the need for people to find meaning and being inspired by visiting places or people on journeys that mean something to their lives.
“Dambusters” – Fast and upbeat three plus minute classic Saxon song. Good riff and fast drumming. Telling the story of the WWII 1943 mission of the Dambusters squadron where the British Royal Air Force’s bombing of German dams.
“Remember the Fallen” – A big epic feel and very memorable and kind of sad song. A tribute to those that passed during the Covid pandemic.
“Super Nova” – Fast and furious from the start with Biff trying to keep up with the drums and guitars. Saxon do these type of songs so well. It seems to be about physics and astronomy describing an actual Super Nova.
“Lady in Gray” – A more groove type opening based around a heavy riff and then a more melodic bridge and into the chorus. Good solos in the middle. A fantasy based lyric about a ghost story of an apparition haunting a castle.
“All for One” – Upbeat and fast paced. Nothing original and standard Saxon but still very solid. The solos do help take it up a notch. Lyrically about camaraderie and staying together as a brotherhood.
“Black is the Night” – Heavier and really a great riff and drumming and one of the most intense songs on the album. Love the solos that are more melodic and slows the heaviness of the song and adds some light and shade to the track. About the sunless days in the northernmost parts of the world and the struggle it can be living in days of darkness.
“Living on the Limit” – Fast and upbeat like a fast moving train on the track or bus going down the Highway and a good way to end the album. Short and sweet and doesn’t stay at the party too long. Lyrically about living life up to the limit and getting as much as possible out of every day.
Recap: Great sound on the production and mix and most every song is very good to great and a very epic looking album cover that could tie into many historical Saxon songs. The album had some darker layers that were supposedly inspired by the COVID era and not being able to do anything for a year or so.
Favorite Songs: Carpe Diem, Remember the Fallen, The Pilgrimage, Age of Steam, Super Nova, Black is the Night, and Lady in Grey.
