After 18 studio, several live (“The Eagle Has Landed” is considered classic) albums and thirty years of classic heavy metal, opening galloper ‘Battalions of Steel’ (which includes some very Nightwishesque orchestrations) is Saxon once again being nothing but themselves.  Single/video ‘Live to Rock’ is a standard fist pumping denim jacket wearing anthem along with ‘Come Rock of Ages’.  The heavier ‘Demon Sweeny Todd’ gets in your face like ‘Witchfinder General’ from 04’s excellent “Lionheart” album.  ‘Slow Lane Blues’ is properly titled.  ‘Crime of Passion’ is a solid mid tempo grinder and ‘Voice’ a bit moodier and balladesque but not quite one.  ‘Protect Yourselves’ embraces a bit more modern feel in the riffing and delivery. Strangely, ‘Coming Home’ has that down south feel and features slide guitar.

In comparison to the standard set by “Lionheart” or “The Inner Sanctum” from 2006, overall “Into The Labyrinth” is average fair but strongly follows in the footsteps of the previous two albums.