Escape Music have a re-release of Saracen’s Red Sky album scheduled for 20 June 2025 – about a month from today. This comes a few weeks after Escape did the same with Vox in Excelso.
Saracen of course arose in the New Wave of British Heavy metal days though in with the heavy stuff they built in all sorts of keys and synths and other pomp/prog elements to big things up along with Rob Bendelow’s searing guitar and Steve Betteney’s soaring vocals.
Their glorious debut album – Heroes, Saints and Fools from 1981 – remains a timeless classic of the NWOBHM era.
Line up changes aplenty for Change of Heart a few years later then Saracen disappeared for twenty years before reappearing out of nowhere with Red Sky in 2003.
The Bendelow brothers was back and all was well in the Saracen camp with Red Sky being back to the soaring heavy/proggy/pomp style of the debut.
Some of the earlier songs appeared in re-recorded form along with some new songs. All excellent stuff.
Rob Bendelow’s guitar work is sublime. Cutting riffs, searing solos. Brother Richard’s bass is busy and effective along with Jamie Little’s strong drumming.
Richard Lowe’s keyboard work is so good as he provides all the atmospheric swells, swirls and the glorious synth breaks.
Betteney’s vocals also so on point and powerful.
Perhaps the song here on Red Sky which sums Saracen up is Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Here it is:
Over the years Saracen haven’t been too prolific regarding recorded output with their last album being Redemption back in 2014 – however everything is top quality bar one or two dips on Change of Heart.
They are, to my mind at least, one of the most talented bands arising from/being connected with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days of the 1980s.
Well done to Escape for this re-release. Be advised it is in limited numbers. The Vinyl will be double gatefold limited edition of 300 copies only, with newly designed artwork, the vinyls will be in “Red Solid” and “Yellow Flame” colours, all will be individually numbered 1-300, 180g Audiophile Vinyl. There will also be also a limited edition of 500 CDs only
Check it out and order from Escape Music here:
https://www.escape-music.com
And whilst you’re there, don’t forget Vox in Excelso.
Escape are continuing with the Bob Catley solo album re-releases. Middle Earth is due to arrive in a couple of days. Review to follow.
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