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In a recent discussion with Stefan Nilsson from link text Roppongi Rocks, SAXON frontman Biff Byford shared insights about a potential sequel to the band’s 24th studio album, “Hell, Fire And Damnation”, released in January 2024 through Silver Lining Music. He remarked (as noted by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “We’re actually working on [the next SAXON LP] today. The ideas are primarily coming from Brian [Tatler, guitar], Doug [Scarratt, guitar], and Nibbs [Tim Carter, bass]. My role is mainly to arrange everything, write lyrics, and develop the melodies. Just those three tasks, really. I mostly let the boys create the guitar riffs, and it’s up to me to decide if I like them or not. That’s how it works. It’s been effective for many years, so the saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’re likely to begin recording the next album in November, given everything is in place, and possibly wrap it up by January. So [it will] be released sometime next year.”
On how SAXON has remained relevant for nearly five decades, Biff commented: “You have to persist in writing great songs and not deceive yourself into thinking that something is exceptional when it isn’t. It’s easy to fall into that trap over time. Therefore, maintaining high quality — not quantity — is essential. Always strive to write songs you genuinely like and hope that others will too. In the past decade, we’ve been fortunate, releasing fantastic albums and gaining a slightly younger fanbase alongside our long-time fans, so we consider ourselves lucky to still be relevant. I believe our music and our attitude play significant roles in that, as we really don’t care too much, basically.”
Regarding the performance of DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Tatler — who joined SAXON in early 2023 as Paul Quinn‘s replacement — Byford said: “He’s doing fantastic. He contributed a few songs to the last album; the title track ‘Hell, Fire And Damnation’ is a collaboration between him and Brian. Given that Brian hasn’t had a prominent stage for his music before, he’s really enjoying himself. He comes from a different perspective because he hasn’t had as much success as he rightfully deserves. He’s making up for lost time now, to be honest. Aside from the three songs that METALLICA covered from [DIAMOND HEAD] — which were set to be huge, but things didn’t work out back in the early 1980s].”
Byford further added: “It was an obvious choice to invite Brian to join SAXON. He was my first choice. Many expressed interest in the role, but Paul Quinn is tough to follow. You need someone with a unique flair that… surprised many, including me, because it was such a logical decision. It’s going well, and he enjoys working with Doug. They get along fine.”
When asked about the importance of producing consistently strong studio albums this late in their career, Biff stated: “It’s always vital to aim for greatness in a new album since you won’t repeat the success of ‘Wheels Of Steel’ or ‘Denim And Leather’, as those were magic moments of their time. They are classic records. The key is to avoid trying to recreate ‘Wheels Of Steel’ or ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’. Instead, it’s about writing from where we are now. Surprisingly, the recent album was successful; we continue to sell lots of records, especially vinyl. We’ve also transitioned into a bit of a streaming band, which is a new experience for us, likely due to younger fans. They might stream, but they’re also buying vinyl. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter — just get the music, however you can, and enjoy it.”
Due to Quinn‘s decision to step back from touring with SAXON, the band canceled its April 2023 South American tour and the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on stage by Tatler.
Brian has been on tour with Scarratt, Carter, Byford, and drummer Nigel Glockler since mid-2023, while still maintaining his role in DIAMOND HEAD.
Byford and Quinn are the only remaining original members in the current lineup of SAXON.
Hailing from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has sold around 23 million albums and produced timeless hits such as “Denim And Leather”, “Princess Of The Night”, “Wheels Of Steel”, and “Power And Glory”.
“Hell, Fire And Damnation” was produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) alongside Byford, with Sneap handling the mixing and mastering.
Image courtesy of SDTV – Stonedead Festival
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