Saxon Album Update And Tracklisting

Saxon frontman Biff Byford recently spoke to the U.K.'s long-running magazine Terrorizer about the group's brand-new album, "Lionheart," due on September 20 through SPV Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Killing Ground" was completed at Gems24 studio near Boston, Lincolnshire, England with producer Charlie Bauerfeind and features artwork by Paul R. Gregory, who had previously worked with the group on the now classic "Crusader" album.

"It's more powerful," Biff said of the new album, "We wanted it to be a rawer album because a lot of people say 'you're fantastic live, but on album you're a bit, er, "reverby"!' (laughs). So we went for an album that is right in your face, vocally and guitar-wise. . . On this album, it's a very strong mixture of early and new SAXON influences. We've cut out a lot of the bullshit and got down to the nitty gritty of what really makes a great metal sound. It's Saxon 2004 basically!"

Regarding the band's longevity, Biff said, "We're really passionate about what we do, and that shows through in the songs. We don't follow trends.

"Metal has become young people's music again," he explained, "It tends to go in cycles and people rebel against manufactured music. They want something raunchy and rebellious where you can identify with the members rather than them just looking beautiful. Age doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to some 15-year-old kid who likes the music that I'm the same age as his father!"

"Lionheart" tracklisting:

01. Witchfinder General
02. Man And Machine
03. The Return
04. Lionheart
05. Beyond the Grave
06. Justice
07. To live by the Sword
08. Jack Tars
09. English Man´o`war
10. Searching for Atlantis
11. Flying on the Edge

News from SPV:
Saxon are British through and through. Not only are they among the founders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that kick-started a new musical genre in the early 80's, they've also upheld the theme of their native country in their lyrics as well as in their music for some 25 years. Pretty much the same can be said of every aspect of their new, haunting album, "Lionheart." From their impressive songwriting with its powerful sounds and ambitioned lyrics about witch hunters, King Richard Lionheart and the attitude of British soldiers towards war, to their striking cover artwork, Saxon unequivocally stand by their origins. At the same time, the band surrounding vocalist Biff Byford display an energy that's almost physically perceptible. Byford rightly explains: "Lionheart is the most powerful album we've ever recorded.

Source: Metal Rules