Professional ratings |
Review scores |
Source |
Rating |
Allmusic |
[1] |
Kerrang! |
[2] |
Rock the Nations is the eighth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1986 (see 1986 in music).
Album notes
The album is the first not to feature original bassist Steve Dawson, who had left the band earlier in 1986. For the recording of this album, vocalist Biff Byford recorded all the bass parts in Dawson's place. However, Paul Johnson joined the band as bassist before the album was released and is therefore credited in the liner notes. Elton John, who was recording for his album Leather Jackets in the same studio, is featured on the songs "Party Til You Puke" and "Northern Lady".
Reception
Rock The Nations received mixed reviews from critics. Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic gave the album two stars out of five and said in his review for the band's previous album Innocence Is No Excuse that "Saxon's internal chemistry was significantly unbalanced by the subsequent departure of key songwriter [Steve] Dawson -- a loss from which they would take years to fully recover."[3] in his review for this album, he said that although the album was "graced with a somewhat rougher sound more in line with the band's New Wave of British Heavy Metal early years" it was still "arguably less heavy than its predecessor" and also criticised the songs "We Came Here To Rock", "Running Hot" and the title track for being "cliché-ridden" and "Waiting For The Night" and "Northern Lady" for being "unconvincingly sappy ballads", though he did regard "Party 'til You Puke" as being "good for a laugh" and also of interest for the guest appearance of Elton John. However, he concluded that the album is one that "the Saxon faithful would likely rather forget".[1]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver and Nigel Glockler, except where noted.
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1. |
"Rock the Nations" | |
4:40 |
2. |
"Battle Cry" | |
5:26 |
3. |
"Waiting for the Night" | Byford, Glockler |
4:51 |
4. |
"We Came Here to Rock" | |
4:18 |
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5. |
"You Ain't No Angel" | |
5:28 |
6. |
"Running Hot" | Byford, Quinn, Oliver, Steve Dawson, Glockler |
3:35 |
7. |
"Party 'til You Puke" | |
3:25 |
8. |
"Empty Promises" | |
4:09 |
9. |
"Northern Lady" | |
4:42 |
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10. |
"Chase the Fade" (b-side "Waiting for the Night") | Quinn, Oliver |
2:32 |
11. |
"Waiting for the Night" (7" single edit) | Byford, Glockler |
4:12 |
12. |
"Northern Lady" (7" single edit) | |
3:57 |
13. |
"Everybody Up" (live, b-side "Northern Lady") | |
3:37 |
14. |
"Dallas 1PM" (live, b-side "Northern Lady") | Byford, Quinn, Oliver, Dawson, Pete Gill |
6:34 |
15. |
"Power and the Glory" (live) | Byford, Quinn, Oliver, Dawson, Glockler |
6:52 |
16. |
"Rock the Nations" (live) | |
4:49 |
17. |
"Waiting for the Night" (live) | Byford, Glockler |
4:34 |
Personnel
Production
References
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