The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

 British heavy metal giants Saxon have announced the first UK and Ireland leg of their Gods of Thunder World Tour .  The eleven date tour will feature the revival of their legendary 30-foot mechanised Eagle for all UK and Ireland shows, with the exception of Cardiff due to venue restrictions. Saxon will also be bringing the  Castles & Eagles stage production. Originally constructed in the early 1980s as Saxon prepared to tour their seminal album Denim and Leather , the iconic Eagle was built by Midlands-based company LSD using airport runway landing lights. It made its first appearance during a pre-tour rehearsal in London before becoming an enduring symbol of the band. Towering above audiences during Saxon’s massive arena tours, the emblematic Eagle quickly became Saxon’s mascot and inspired the title of their acclaimed 1982 UK Top 5 live album, The Eagle Has Landed , leading to fans requesting its presence ever since. “We wanted to make the Gods of Thunder UK ...

Photo courtesy of Anselm Anderson Reviewed by Anselm Anderson Legendary NWOBHM icons Saxon celebrated over forty years of their second album ' Wheels of Steel " last night at a jam-packed 02 Apollo Theatre in Manchester, England . I arrived on a moderately cold evening under dusky clouds to watch Biff and co. play the album in its entirety. They were joined by former Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider to celebrate forty years of ' Balls to the Wall ,' along with a local band called Untamed Silence . It was the latter who kicked off the night with their version of modern blues and powerful soulful vocals. The female-fronted band earnestly tried to get the half-full, sleepless crowd on their feet. The heavily tattooed vocalist strutted around the stage, belting out vocals and smiling at a crowd that finally showed signs of life under the glossy blue lights and smoke-filled stage. After a brief pause, the petite UDO took the stage, joined by guitarists Dee Dammers ...

Photo Credit: Press Edited by Anselm Anderson Saxon Lead vocalist Biff Byford has posted an update on his battle with cancer. In a special social media posting, Byford discloses his recent diagnosis following the band's  Japanese Tour in late April and his upcoming 'mopping-up' chemotherapy treatment. Also, Byford discusses the recent postponement of Saxon's European tour in France and Spain until next spring. At the same time, he undergoes a short period of chemotherapy, but has been told by doctors that his prognosis going forward is positive. All tickets will remain valid for the new rescheduled dates, which will be announced on SAXON’s social media channels imminently. Unfortunately, Biff’s treatment is affecting the band’s upcoming festival performances. The band will have to cancel their appearance at Trutnoff Open Air later this month and has postponed their performance at Neuborn Open Air, which will now take place next year. Biff has reassured fans that Hell...

Edited by Anselm Anderson NWOBHM Icons Saxon have unveiled the video for 'Heavy Metal Thunder (live at Hellfest)', taken from their upcoming new live album 'Eagles Over Hellfest'. due out this week via Silver Lining Music PRE-ORDER AT THIS LOCATION Saxon has generated excitement with their new release ahead of their September European tour. "Eagles Over Hellfest" is a recording from their performance at last year’s Hellfest and serves as a sneak peek of what fans can expect during their “Castles & Eagles” headline shows in September 2025 at the Zénith venues in Paris, Nantes, and Toulouse.  Lead singer and founding member Biff Byford enthuses that 'Heavy Metal Thunder' is a revered classic, taken from the new album. Watch “Heavy Metal Thunder (Live at Hellfest)” here – videos courtesy of Sombrero & Co in collaboration with Hellfest Productions. 'Eagles Over Hellfest' revisits classic albums like "Strong Arm Of The Law" to ...