Saxon remain true to their New Wave of British Heavy Metal roots in 2024 releasing Hell, Fire and Damnation. An album of majestic, blistering heaviness.
Like an old marketing slogan for a well-known breakfast cereal – it snaps, crackles and pops (or should than be rocks…….?).
Firstly – the Paul Quinn conundrum. He recently retired from touring with Saxon bringing in Diamond Head riffmaster Brian Tatler for that purpose.
It would appear that Brian’s a full member now as he’s listed in the line-up and shown in the band photograph in the CD booklet and plays all over the album in fine style.
Paul gets a mention for ‘additional guitars’ on a couple of tracks which seems to amount to a couple of solos. Not sure of this means he’s left or on an extended sabbatical?
Hell, Fire and Damnation sparkles from start to finish. A lesson in fresh, energetic, enthusiastic, bombastic heavy metal which holds the attention all the way through. At around a forty minute running time it is all about quality and not quantity.
Biff Byford’s voice as soaring and powerful as ever – not bad eh for a bloke in his early ‘70s who has been banging out stuff like this for five decades or so. A force of nature indeed. Nigel Glockler’s thunderous drumming continues to show he’s one of the finest in the genre – and of course ably backed up by the throbbing bass of Nibbs Carter.
Then the guitars – the riffs and monster chords cut, slash, rip aplenty sounding different on each song. Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler make quite the complimentary duo blazing away non-stop taking it in turns to blitz scorching solos on each song bar 1066 where Brian has the sole solo credit.
Musically the album in a lesson in (if this isn’t a contradiction) controlled power. Biff’s on form lyrically dealing with generally historically based subject matter such as the title track, the French Revolution, Sheffield, Roswell, pirate radio stations and the Battle of Hastings.
I can certainly identify with Fire and Steel, which celebrates Sheffield steel as the city at one time had a thriving steel industry with Sheffield steel known world-wide though it’s gone now. I was born in Sheffield and in my youth worked in a factory and it’s sad that the steel industry and declined though that’s another story……..
Also Pirates of the Airwaves about the likes of Radio Caroline and Radio Luxenberg hunkering down with my transistor radio on an evening trying to pick up signals from the ships offshore. Great times.
But what about the music – well, it’s a treat all the way. National treasure Brian Blessed hams it up with the narration on the brief intro then it’s all systems go.
The title track fizzes with energy. Madame Guillotine has a brooding undertone. Fire and Steel fast and furious. I can picture my days in the factory from the descriptive lyrics. Here’s the video:
There’s Something in Roswell blazes as do all the nine tracks. The closer – Supercharger – is breathlessly fast and heavy.
Fifty years since formation, forty five years since the debut album and now if my finger counting is correct twenty four albums in and putting out stuff like we have here on Hell, Fire and Damnation is a magnificent achievement and a magnificent album.
>> SAXON HELL FIRE AND DAMNATION ON AM AMAZON <<
The Avenger box set of their two albums from the NWOBHM days and a disc of a previously unreleased live performance has arrived also. Review of that to follow in a few days.