Innocence Is No Excuse

Released in 1985, Innocence Is No Excuse represents a pivotal and controversial moment in Saxon's discography. After establishing themselves as leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) with a raw, blue-collar sound, the band made a conscious effort to break into the lucrative American market. This resulted in a significantly more polished, radio-oriented production style compared to classics like Wheels of Steel. Recorded at Union Studios in Munich, the album features a dense, layered sound with a heavy emphasis on melodic hooks and big vocal harmonies. While some long-time fans felt the band had moved too far toward 'hair metal' or pop-rock, the album remains a masterclass in mid-80s metal production. It was the last album to feature the classic lineup including bassist Steve Dawson. Despite the stylistic shift, tracks like 'Rockin' Again' and 'Broken Heroes' (not listed but central to the era) demonstrated that Biff Byford's songwriting remained potent, even when dressed in more commercial attire.