Vinyl Record Review: Heavy Metal Band Saxon, Album "Into The Labyrinth"

Review for www.RichsRecordEmporium.com

 

 

Audiophile Sound Quality Rating 9 / Musical content 10

Vinyl Record Review: Heavy Metal, Saxon “Into the Labyrinth” double Gatefold Album Set, Heavy Vinyl Pressing 2009 Steamhammer Reocrds, LC09002 German Import. Warner/Chappell Music.

Engineered and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, Exec. Producer (as usual) Biff Byford, Recorded at Twilight Hall in Krefeld, Germany. Studio Assistance Daniel Klecker.

 

All Lyriks by Biff Byford. Music by Biff Byford (Vocals) , Doug Scarratt (Guitar), Paul Quinn (Guitar), Nigel Glokler (Drums), and Timothy Carter

 

Saxon is a British band formed in the late 70’s, and who achieved World Wide Success charting no less than eight (8) top 40 albums in Great Brittan in the 80’s. After this period, due in part to changes in lineup, some feuding among band members, and a short stint in court over who actually owns the name “Saxon” the many fans who were not of the fanatical variety loss interest. Which would prove to be “their loss” as this band has only got better with time. “Into the Labyrinth” is Saxon’s eighteenth (*18^th) studio album. There have been two more studio albums released since then (2009), Call to Arms (2011) and Sacrifice (2013).  I have all but five of the first 18 and every single one (every single song on each) is excellent.  This is one of those bands like (Neil Young or Willie Nelson) that seems to never run out of interesting material. Every time I “take a chance” on one I haven’t heard I’m blown away by how good it is – every single track. These guys are amazing, and the musicianship has only matured over time.

 

For this review I'm using Music Hall's extremely detailed custom cartridge (the "Mojo") in their venerable 5.1SE turntable $1089.00.  A beautifully detailed table that gives a series view in the window of true high-end audio performance.

Track One, Battalions of Steel starts with a chorus that sounds like it could be the sound track to “Game of Thrones – the movie” if there will ever be one. Track Three, The Demon Sweeney Todd could be the sound track for an episode out of “Sleepy Hollow” – I have to admit, the first side of this awesome four side set made me wonder – were they inspired by these shows, then I remember – oh – no, they would have had to write the material prior to recording it in 2009….hmmmm.

 

Regardless, this is a fantastic release for any heavy metal fan that likes it more melodic, yet with the steady grinding rhythms that drive any hardcore Metallica fan.  The woofs on my speakers were getting a great workout thanks to Nibb’s awesome bass guitar accompaniment to Glocker’s relentless riveting drumming (this guy’s like John Bohham on acid). …er..not that I would know anything about acid.

 

So if Saxon is one of those bands you never got into, or only heard during their 80’s years – its time for a return, or you could be missing some of the best British metal writing today!

On a side note - most "German" recordings are excellent quality so as such you'll definitely notice a 3D soundstage under the phones.  As usual, the CD or digital download is basically more two dimensional. "cheers"

New Record Releases Reviewed for Sound Quality and Musicallity

www.richsrecordemporium.com

Audiofile Rating: Music Quality 10 / Sound Quality 9, except for Seeds of Love, Sound Quality "10"

Batch Review:

There’s no question these five artists are outstanding examples of modern pop music today. I’m as guilty as anyone for falling into long stretches of time where I only listen to music I was exposed to when I was younger, High School – College era. But if you’re really into music, whether it’s hard rock, blues, whatever – and you find yourself doing the same thing – only buying music from your particular era “back then” than you are doing yourself a HUGE DISERVICE. Because if you are truly into great music, this batch represents modern music at its finest.

 

Some, like the Tears for Fears album pictured in the “Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab banner are not new, but a new release from the original master tapes – hence – new production of an older record. But tears was a band that for some reason got missed by many “not from the era” in which they were newly popular, and company’s like MO-FI are going back and grabbing that music which deserves to be immortalized on collector quality vinyl.

 

As for the truly newer artists highlighted here, The 2015 Capital Records release of the Decemberists is a production of impressive originality and musicality. If you like Neil Young, Mason Proffit or The band, it should be at the top of your list to pick up. They have an earthy grass-roots originality to them that speaks to you with wonderful stories and non-traditional lyrics. Three sides of music are included with this “gatefold” album, heavy vinyl pressings w/an interesting celestial design on the fourth non-playable side. This is one of my new-favorite records!  I think we’ll be expensing one of these for demonstration of the Hi-Fi gear next door at Uptown Audio.

 

Another amazingly original recording is that of the “Fleet Foxes” w/there 2015 release on Sub Pop records. Another Gatefold Album cover, the first is a full length 33 1/3 LP, the second is a full size EP w/about 15 minutes of material per side. Another outstanding recording lyrically, musically, and sound quality wise. The vocals on this in my mind are as good as “One Direction” -- Could use this next door as well, but have to limit how many “demo” records we have laying around…

 

The Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording of Tears for Fears The seeds of love – what can I say – every “Mo-Fi” recording is painstakingly derived from the original master tapes, on top quality vinyl and are a number limited edition. Every single Mo-Fi record ever released when it goes out of production instantly goes up in value usually by a minimum of four times.  So even if you are not a collector – per say, if all you every bought were Mo-Fi releases – your record collection would be worth considerably more than you paid for it. Oh, and did I mention, these recordings are typically better than the original – earn a “10” for sound quality. 

 

As for the Black Keys, the material on this one is lush and syrupy, with excellent musicality and originality. Lots of reviews out there for this very popular band so once again, yes, sound quality is on par with what you would want music this good to sound like when you get it home to your very own vinyl spinner!

 

“cheers”

Music record reviews, Audiophile Recordings, Records and CD's. downloads, MQA, digital

Reviews for "Rich's Record Emporium" www.RichsRecordEmporium.com

Music Reviews (mostly vinyl records, but also CD's, and of course - " audiophile" recordings)

In our music reviews we hope to give you insight into those select few recordings which offer more value than the average in one respect or another.  And to really expose those which have outstanding sound quality.  The term "audiophile" is often a little vague for those not exposed either to a high performance audio system, or to other "audiophile's". All this term really means, is someone who really gets into the quality of the sound, or in the case of a product, a product which excels in sound quality. There are recording labels that specialize in "audiophile" recordings, and these are usually better than the standard edition.  But ironically, some labels, or recording engineers, or studios, or a combination there of have produced "standard" caliber recordings which still manage this sonic distinction. Some refer to vinyl records of this distinction as "hot stampers". Regardless of the various names, we want to bring you a list of recordings which meet these criteria, which are "above the norm" and truly worth owning.

As digital platforms continue to advance, we will follow them with interest. For instance, MQA shows much promise, but to date nothing replaces vinyl for it's exactness in replicating the most natural sound closest to the original setting.

John Fogerty, Wrote a Song For Everyone, Vinyl Record Review, Audiophile Sound Quality, Vanguard Records

Vinyl Record Review

John Fogerty: Wrote A Song For Everyone, 2013 Vanguard Records (double album gatefold set) on heavy (gram weight not specified vinyl).

Audiophile Rating: Music Production Quality 10 / Recording 7

Style: Popular, Rock, Singer, Song Writer



This recording get's a 7 as the overall quality is very good, but not as good as most "audiophile" or other heavy vinly recordings of today. The sound quality beats the pants off most of the used records you'll come across with broad rich detail over the entire frequency range and a quiet velvet like background. The sound stage itself exceeds the width and debth of the speakers but fails to extend to the listening posistion.

If you are a fan of any of the following artists; Zac Brown, Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Bob Seger, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson, Dawes, or My Morning Jacket you’re going to want to pick this one up. Fogerty’s music is as fresh and timeless as the living legend himself, and he plays in with each of these artists on one or more of his own songs. Recorded on the Vanguard label and produced by Julie Fogerty the sound and production quality of this album set sounds even better than the original Fantasy label.

This album has all the ingredients to become a truly a timeless classic. Even when I’ve been stuck in a Jazz or classical mood (usually will ONLY play the genre I’m stuck in when it’s one of these two), I find myself putting this one on again and again – it’s just too good to classify or file away for an occasional play when I’m in a rock, country, or folk mood.

For instance, take some of the same tracks on the original Fantasy recordings,i.e. Who’ll Stop The Rain, Long as I can See the Light I would usually say the original version is better, not so here. My Morning Jacket’s version of Long – Light is stupendous, pedal steel guitarist Carl Broemel makes the music sound both old school classic and fresh and new and Fogerty’s voice has held up surprisingly well for his years of 62 I believe blending as if just one of the group during vocal accompaniments w/those half his age. And on Who’ll stop the rain, you realize Seger’s voice has also held up amazingly well for someone that’s been belting it out with such passion since the early 60’s he & Fogerty sound rich and melodic together on this one with a beautiful piano accompaniment from Silver Bullet pianist Craig Frost (also of early Grand Funk Railroad fame). Again, the music has a timeless appeal that sounds as much like a product of today as it did when it first hit the airways some 40 years ago. And Zac Brown’s rendition of Bad Moon Rising, and Kid Rock’s Born on the Bayou are among my new favorite songs.

All the bands on this album take ownership of Fogerty’s music to a degree not often the case with famous “duets” and or “covers”. I see myself replacing this vinyl on a regular basis – i.e. I must be on my 5th copy of Dark Side of the Moon….”cheers”
--Mark