Saxon, the legendary British heavy metal band, is back with a vengeance on their latest album, “Hell, Fire and Damnation”. The only thing that has changed is the addition of the new guitarist, Brian Tatler (Diamond Head), who has been touring with the band for quite a while since the founding member & guitarist Paul Quinn decided to retire after 48 years. Despite that fact, he appears on two tracks: “Fire and Steel” and “Super Charger”. Moreover, the opener, “The Prophecy”, features English actor Brian Blessed, who recites a poem about the end of the world.
I do believe that Brian Tatler has brought fresh metal excitement and energy to the band, aside from his unique heavy riffs. Brian is an incredibly gifted guitarist who has influenced countless bands (including the iconic Metallica) but has never received the recognition he deserves. Anyhow, the band seems to be in good shape, and that’s obvious since the first note. Biff Byford sounds like he’s in his 40s again, and the rest of the guys just follow along. The production is heavy, punchy, and powerful. Not retro or anything, but a bit contemporary, as it should be. The album was produced by Biff Byford and the renowned Andy Sneap, while the last one also did the mixing and mastering.
Saxon are not fooling around… they hit the nail on the head with songs like “Hell, Fire and Damnation”, “Madame Guillotine”, “There’s Something in Roswell”, “Kubla Khan and the Merchant of Venice”, “Pirates of the Airwaves”, “1066” and “Super Charger”. Each song is well crafted and executed, with the band’s trademark blend of power and melody on full display.
“Hell, Fire and Damnation” is a powerful, high-energy album that showcases the band’s impressive musicianship and songwriting skills. The heavy riffs, the driving rhythms, the blistering guitar solos, and Biff’s impressive vocals make this album a true heavy metal dynamite. It’s an album that’s sure to please longtime fans and attract new ones as well. Saxon is undeniably one of the top heavy metal bands in the world.
