Unplugged & Strung Up CD

ldquoUNPLUGGED AND STRUNG UP Nov 22nd 2013 is a backcatalog visit featuring interpretations ofnbspSAXONnbsptracks through orchestral accompaniment, acoustic revisions and rerecordings. UNPLUGGED AND STRUNG UP is your chance to hearnbspSAXONnbspdo some pretty killer overhauls on tunes such as Call to Arms, Sacrifice,nbspCrusader Orchestrated Version, Just Let Me Rock, Forever Free and Requiem plus orchestral versions ofnbspRed Star FallingnbspandnbspBroken Heroesnbspalong with acoustic treatments ofnbspComing HomenbspandnbspIron Wheels. Of the orchestral songs, the most impressive isnbspThe Eagle Has Landednbspwith its dense layers of metal, synths and strings, all superbly mixed. Of the acoustic songs,nbspFrozen RainbownbspfromnbspSaxonnbspis the most remarkable, stripped down to a gentle ballad with its twelve string textures and sensuous solo. The live acoustic version ofnbspIron Wheelsnbspis one of the most poignant tracks onnbspUnplugged and Strung Up, served as a biographical account ofnbspBiff Byfords father. Then the swampy moonshine slides ofnbspComing HomenbspfromnbspKilling Groundnbspis a kneepumping bit of fun asnbspSAXONs tribute tonbspRobert Johnsonnbspand American delta blues.There are new takes ofnbspBattle CrynbspfromnbspRock the Nationsnbspandnbspa very string version of Militia Guard, plus a remix ofnbspStallions of the Highway, the latter two coming from the first album. These songs have been tweaked and rerecorded with extra layers. In the case ofnbspMilitia Guard, there are traces of acoustic guitars filtering behind the main drive of the song, accenting it more than the original cut. nbspRay Van Horn, Jr.Blabbermouth