{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox album | name = Solid Ball of Rock | type = studio | artist = Saxon | cover = Solidrock2.jpg | alt = | released = 14 January 1991<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Albums|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=12 January 1991}}</ref> | recorded = 1990 | studio = Karo Studios, Hamburg, Germany | genre = Heavy metal | length = {{duration|m=44|s=49}} | label = CBH/Virgin | producer = Kalle Trapp, Saxon | prev_title = Greatest Hits Live | prev_year = 1990 | next_title = Forever Free | next_year = 1992 | misc = {{Singles | name = Solid Ball of Rock | type = studio | single1 = Requiem (We Will Remember) / Altar of the Gods | single1date = March 1991 }} }}
'''''Solid Ball of Rock''''' is the tenth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1991 on Virgin Records. Five of its 11 tracks were written by new bassist Nibbs Carter, who co-wrote another three songs.
"For our audience – and without an audience there is no band – our focus returned on ''Solid Ball of Rock''…" noted singer Biff Byford. "Since then we've been right on it."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Elliott|title=The gospel according to Biff Byford|magazine=Classic Rock |issue=226|date=August 2016|p=54}}</ref> Phil Sutcliffe in Q Magazine referred to the album as "a modicum of celebratory rock 'n' roll chest beating".<ref name=":0" />
==Background== Kalle Trapp, who has worked on projects for Blind Guardian and Destruction, was appointed as the producer.<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kalle-trapp-mn0000853214 Kalle Trapp | Credits | AllMusic]</ref> The title track is based on a rockabilly-style song created by Biff Byford’s friend Bram Tchaikovsky, former member of The Motors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ramzine.co.uk/featured/interview-with-biff-byford-of-saxon-about-forthcoming-release-eagles-and-dragons/ |last=Mach |first=Neil |title=Interview with Biff Byford of Saxon about forthcoming release - Eagles and Dragons |publisher=RAMzine |date=2016-02-21 |accessdate=2023-03-23}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 =AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-solid-ball-of-rock-r17450/review | title = Saxon Solid Ball of Rock | accessdate = 2011-06-20 | last = Rivadavia | first = Eduardo | publisher = AllMusic }}</ref> | rev2 =''Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal'' | rev2Score = 4/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | authorlink1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = 1 August 2007 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | page=384 |isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Kerrang!'' | rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The great rock and ball swindle |magazine=Kerrang! |date=19 January 1991 |last=Zell |first=Ray |issue=324| page=25|issn=0262-6624 |url=https://issuu.com/obarnes/docs/kerrang_324 |accessdate=2022-08-07 }}</ref> | rev4 =''Q'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Sutcliffe |first=Phil |date=5 March 1991 |title=Solid Ball of Rock review |magazine=Q |issue=55 |pages=76}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Rock Hard'' | rev5score= 9.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Review Album: Saxon – Solid Ball of Rock|journal=Rock Hard |year=1990 |last=Albrecht |first=Frank|issue=47 |url= https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/11488-a-solid-ball-of-rock.html|accessdate=2017-02-05 | language=German}}</ref> | noprose = yes }} On the UK Albums Chart, it became the first studio album since ''Wheels of Steel'' (1980) to miss the top 100.<ref>[https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18324/saxon/ SAXON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company] - 「ALBUMS」をクリックすれば表示される。</ref> In contrast, on the German album chart, it remained in the top 100 for twelve consecutive weeks, peaking at number 23.
Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "in the late 1980s, Saxon released several albums aimed at commercial success that were critically panned and were ultimately dropped by EMI. With this tenth studio album, however, the long path to their resurgence began." He added, "Overall, there are still inconsistencies in the songwriting, but young new bassist Nibbs Carter contributed particularly aggressive tracks in recent years, bringing a fresh dimension to the group."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/solid-ball-of-rock-mw0000674617 |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |title=Saxon - Solid Ball of Rock Album Reviews, Songs & More |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2023-03-23}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{track listing | title1 = Solid Ball of Rock | writer1 = Bram Tchaikovsky, Micki Broadbent | length1 = 4:35 | title2 = Altar of the Gods | writer2 = Timothy "Nibbs" Carter | length2 = 3:30 | title3 = Requiem (We Will Remember) | writer3 = Biff Byford, Graham Oliver, Carter, Nigel Glockler | length3 = 5:16 | title4 = Lights in the Sky | writer4 = Byford, Paul Quinn, Paul Johnson | length4 = 4:03 | title5 = I Just Can't Get Enough | writer5 = Byford, Oliver, Quinn | length5 = 4:34 | title6 = Baptism of Fire | writer6 = Carter | length6 = 3:08 | title7 = Ain't Gonna Take It | writer7 = Byford, Oliver, Carter, Glockler | length7 = 4:47 | title8 = I'm on Fire | writer8 = Carter | length8 = 4:24 | title9 = Overture in B-Minor / Refugee | writer9 = Byford, Carter | length9 = 5:42 | title10 = Bavarian Beaver | note10 = Instrumental | writer10 = Carter | length10 = 1:17 | title11 = Crash Dive | writer11 = Carter | length11 = 3:07 | title12 = Reeperbahn Stomp | writer12 = Carter | length12 = 3:26 | note12 = Japanese only bonus track }}
==Personnel== ;Saxon *Biff Byford – vocals, engineer *Graham Oliver – guitar *Paul Quinn – guitar *Nibbs Carter – bass *Nigel Glockler – drums
;Production *Kalle Trapp – producer, engineer
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1991) ! Peak<br/>position |- {{Album chart|Germany|23|id=1181|artist=Saxon|album=Solid Ball of Rock|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 April 2018}} |- {{Album chart|Switzerland|28|artist=Saxon|album=Solid Ball of Rock|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 April 2018}} |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|type=album|292806}}
{{Saxon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Saxon (band) albums Category:1991 albums Category:Virgin Records albums