Dogs of War

You know what gets my goat faster than a kleptomaniac Satanist? When people claim an album is "underappreciated", when what they actually mean is "a couple tracks are pretty cool". Jugulator is one I see mentioned all the time, yet the only song people seem to talk about is 'Cathedral Spires'. Saxon boasts two examples of this: Power and the Glory, and this album right here. The former was a painfully boring procession of forgettable rock filler, fortunate enough to be bookended by the incredible title track and 'The Eagle Has Landed'. Dogs of War tells a similar tale, with a great title track, a carefully-crafted cruiser, and a whole dickload of forgettable fluff.

'Dogs of War' is propelled by beefy martial riffs and some of Biff's grimmest lyricism we've seen so far. It's a well-composed track with lots of Orgasmatron energy, which is especially remarkable given its context. 'Big Twin Rolling (Coming Home)' is the other standout, featuring clockwork rhythms and spunky guitar leads that will probably remind listeners of Al Atkins' terrific solo work. These demonstrations of Saxon's rock 'n' roll pedigree and blues metal mastery end here.

Elsewhere, streamlined cuts like 'Burning Wheels' and 'Demolition Alley' are tailored toward the weekend warriors, who can make do with stolid riffs and uninventive, metronome-like rhythms. It's barely heavier than diluted crud like ACDC's Ballbreaker; watered-down radio rock with terribly oversimplified song structures and a lack of memorable flourish. I was going to make a comparison to Accept's Death Row, but truthfully that album had far more ambition and thought put into it.

Oh, but Dogs of War can get plenty unique, with an existential-crisis-inducing country crooner by the name of 'Hold On'. I wish with this was hyperbole, but this track sounds like Dale from King of the Hill singing Taylor Swift. Everything from the sodden major-scale chords to the saccharine subject matter, the acoustic twangs and unspeakably corny choral stings, this is... actually a tiny bit catchy, but I'd never dare listen to it in public. 'Don't Worry' is another country & western-inspired track, but this one is just completely indefensible.

After those tracks and my required insulin shot, I'd still hesitate to dismiss Dogs of War as an atrocity. It's rescued by a couple decent tracks and a genuinely fantastic production, distancing it from Power and the Glory, which sounds like it was recorded on a Furby. Dogs of War, while mostly boring as sin, is far from the most offensive thing the mid-90's had on tap, and it was a sign that Saxon was gearing up for something much more impressive.