The Kings of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal are here, standing tall with their 24th studio album, “Hell, Fire And Damnation.” SAXON, one of the most prominent Heavy Metal bands to ever walk the Earth, has unleashed another powerful record. The album is to be released via the label Silver Lining Music on January 19th, 2024.
The album consists of 10 tracks, a format that has become widely popular for a while now and can prove to be a double-edged sword, particularly for new bands that might not have much time to make a strong impression. However, SAXON took advantage of every single minute, making me replay most of the songs displayed here. It’s catchy and straightforward—what’s not to like?
The first track, “The Prophecy,” serves as an intro, foretelling what is about to come. With the question, “Light versus Dark, is this a myth or is this true?” people may recognize this voice from a few fine British productions, such as The Black Adder. The voice belongs to Brian Blessed OBE, whose voice-over can be heard in “Hell, Fire And Damnation,” which was released as a single last November. This song evokes the signature sound SAXON has forged in stone throughout their career. This ability to design elements that make one recognize them within the first seconds is particularly fascinating.
“Madame Guillotine” advises the listener not to lose one’s head. The solo here is the highlight of the song, and the lyrics playfully nod to the French Revolution. “Fire and Steel” is one of the fastest tracks. Considering that the metal scene is making a return to the main stage, albeit a timid one, this song has the potential to attract new fans from Gen Z, or at least one might hope. The fifth track, “There’s Something in Roswell,” covers a topic that can be a bit taboo. For those not aware, rumors suggest that Roswell, a city in New Mexico, is where the USA government keeps evidence of UFOs and aliens. Whether there is anything there or not, the song presents the idea with an interesting beat and a catchy chorus.
“Kubla Khan and the Merchant of Venice” tells the tale of Marco Polo and how he found himself in the court of Mongolian Emperor Kubla Khan. The story itself is interesting, and the song follows a slower rhythm compared to the other tracks. The theme of “Pirates of the Airwaves” reveals how old we really are. Back in my day, there was this object called a radio, and there were official broadcasts easily found by their FM code number. But there were also pirate radios, only discoverable if you knew exactly where to look. The track begins with that nostalgic static sound and certainly took me back down memory lane—a sincere song that simply delivers.
As we approach the end of our journey, the eighth track, “1066,” is my personal favorite, bringing melodic riffs and a tempo that feels refreshingly unique. Of course, the story here is historical, recounting how England became one kingdom under William the Conqueror. It’s a moment of “history reborn.” Following this is “Witches of Salem” and the final track, “Super Charger.” They share more similarities than differences, as each track has its own lore. However, from a thematic point of view, they felt slightly out of place.
Overall, the entire album is an honest old-school banger that will be appreciated by longtime fans and, hopefully, attract brand new ones.
Written by Denise Di Lallo Ragazzo
Tracklist
- The Prophecy.
- Hell, Fire And Damnation
- Madame Guillotine
- Fire and Steel
- There’s Something in Roswell
- Kubla Khan and the Merchant of Venice
- Pirates of the Airwaves
- 1066
- Witches of Salem
- Super Charger
Lineup
Biff Byford – Vocals
Nibbs Carter – Bass
Nigel Glockler – Drums
Doug Scarratt – Guitars
Brian Tatler – Guitars
Label
Silver Lining Music
Links
Official Website: https://www.saxon747.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaxonOfficial
X Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaxonOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saxon.official
