Saxon

SAXON isn't wasting any time in 2018. Following the critically acclaimed release of 'Battering Ram' in 2015, the heavy metal giants are set to release their latest studio album, Thunderbolt, on February 2nd via the Militia Guard label (Silver Lining Music). The album Thunderbolt produced by Andy Sneap, will feature original Artwork by long time Saxon collaborator Paul Raymond Gregory.

The British heavy metal legends produce a series of alternative takes on classic favourites to herald a worthy new entry to the Saxonian Institute of Metal. There is always feral beauty in a raging beast and with Unplugged and Strung Up, Saxon's selection of unique, fresh and adventurous interpretations of material previously heard only with raw heavy metal thunder, the point is triumphantly underscored. <br/><br/>Unplugged and Strung Up reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic Saxon songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, UK earlier this year, Biff and co re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized the towering likes of "The Eagle Has Landed" and "Crusader" by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. "Frozen Rainbow" from the band's 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, whilst "Red Star Falling" soars and sweeps the emotions with its orchestrally-arranged dovetail.<br/><br/>As if this reinvention wasn't enough, Saxon superfans and collectors can purchase a digipack version of the release which will include 2002's storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-metal re-recorded hits Heavy Metal Thunder. Featuring staple Saxon stormers such as "Motorcycle Man", "Strong Arm of the Law" and "Dallas 1pm" it is a quintessential part of any collection.

Legendary British heavy metal quintet's 21st studio album boasts a clinically 'heavy' echo of their glorious NWOBHM sound, who never dealt in half-truths or incomplete missions. With previous album Sacrifice they filled your heads with heavy metal thunder, and now Saxon want nothing more than to crush them with their very own, hand-crafted, not-safe-for-children brand new album, Battering Ram. Not. A. Problem. <br/><br/>With Biff Byford singing as well as he ever has, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt making full use of the term 'shredding' with their guitars and the lock-steady rhythm of Nibbs Carter's bass and Nigel Glockler's drums, the future and the past crash together in an ear-scintillatingly engaging, raucous, melodic-yet-classically heavy ten songs collection which will instantly be hailed as a Saxon classic. The title track, with its delectable twin guitar assault heralding the album's commencement, gives the listener an instant crack around the chops, whilst traditionalists will be delighted to hear such a perfect marriage of old, classic Saxon with the newer, fresher invective in such riff-fronted fare as "Destroyer" and "Stand Your Ground", but there are still moments of space and exploration which fans will love. <br/><br/>"This one's a natural progression from Sacrifice," says Byford, "There's a bit less rock'n'roll and a bit more 'heavy' on it. We wanted to keep focused on a style rather than moving around too much."<br/><br/>Produced by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Testament, Exodus Accept) at his Backstage Recording Studios in rural Derbyshire, Saxon were able to hone in and whittle down any excess, finding the sonic space and balance to let Battering Ram's riffs and melodies get the necessary space to scream front and centre.

Saxon: The Eagle Has Landed Part 2 [2 CD]

Saxon: The Eagle Has Landed Part 3 [2 CD]