by Richie Unterberger

Featuring 19 tracks from 1978-1982, about half of it previously unreleased, Diamonds and Nuggets should help to fill in the gaps of this major New Wave of British Heavy Metal band's early days. It's characteristic highway-to-hell sounds for metalheads, occasionally slowing down into the power ballad mode, short on outstanding songs or admirable attitude. Odd bonuses for Saxon fans include the early-'70s track "Walking," the first ever recording by Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson, and a version of "Frozen Rainbow" with Rod Argent on keyboards. There are extensive liner notes about the band's early years, with plenty of quotes from Oliver, who, the notes warn "believes there are many more gems to be unearthed should the demand exist."