Innocence Is No Excuse
Saxon · 1985
41 min · 10 tracks · heavy metal
A high-octane blend of heavy riffs and anthemic choruses that epitomizes 80s British heavy metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Rockin’ Again Start here — This opening track encapsulates the album's energetic spirit with its driving rhythm and catchy hooks, setting the tone for what follows.
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Devil Rides Out — With its darker themes and powerful instrumentation, this track showcases Saxon's ability to blend melodic elements with heavier sounds effectively.
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Broken Heroes — This song stands out for its poignant lyrics reflecting on themes of sacrifice and valor, demonstrating the band's lyrical depth amidst their heavy sound.
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Raise Some Hell — An anthem of defiance and celebration, this track embodies the rebellious spirit of heavy metal culture during the 80s.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album delivers energetic heavy metal anthems but lacks significant depth or innovation.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of driving guitar riffs paired with anthemic choruses that create a high-energy atmosphere.
- Each track typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with many songs incorporating call-and-response elements to engage the listener.
- The tempo remains predominantly fast throughout, with only a couple of tracks introducing slight variations in pace.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady energetic listening experience
- anthemic choruses for sing-alongs
- for driving fast
- invigorating tracks for workouts
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, reflective music
- seek intricate, complex arrangements
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — It solidified Saxon's status in heavy metal during their commercial peak.
- Themes
- 80s metal rebellion· sacrifice and valor· British heavy metal anthems
- Career context
- Released as Saxon's sixth studio album, Innocence Is No Excuse arrived during their commercial peak, following the success of their previous album, Crusader. The band was solidifying their status in the heavy metal scene, aiming to reach a broader audience while retaining their signature sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Judas Priest· Iron Maiden· Accept
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Broken Heroes
The narrative shifts from glorifying battle to reflecting on loss and sacrifice among soldiers.
This shift adds emotional complexity, contrasting typical heavy metal bravado with a more somber reflection on heroism.
Tracklist
- 1 Rockin’ Again Start here 5:22
- 2 Call of the Wild 3:57
- 3 Back on the Streets 3:56
- 4 Devil Rides Out 4:20
- 5 Rock ’n’ Roll Gipsy 4:10
- 6 Broken Heroes 5:24
- 7 Gonna Shout 3:59
- 8 Everybody Up 3:26
- 9 Raise Some Hell 3:42
- 10 Give It Everything You’ve Got 3:25
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Powerslave
Iron Maiden
Shares the same anthemic choruses and epic storytelling rooted in British heavy metal tradition.
Defenders of the Faith
Judas Priest
Features powerful riffs and themes of valor, aligning closely with 80s metal rebellion.
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Combines high-octane energy with a raw edge, reflecting the spirit of 80s heavy metal camaraderie.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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