So according to record and concert sale figures released only a few weeks ago, reports were released leading to some news that the age or rock was fading. Some media swines even declared that rock was dead. The fools!
Tuesday 19th April saw Bristol's O2 Academy host shows from a trio of rock monsters in the shape of Fury UK, Wolfsbane and, 35 years into their rock crusade, the mighty Saxon. Each and every one of them putting claims that “rock is dead” to the sword.
Fury got the evening up and rocking with a show that warmed-up, not that they needed it, a growing crowd congregating inside a sweat-box of an O2 Academy. Following that, Wolfsbane frontman Blaze Bayley led a red-hot performance that deserved the applause from the denim and leather-clad army. An applause which would've matched any headlining performance.
With the heat matching the same temperatures as that on the surface of the sun, anticipation was near to boiling point as we waited for Biff Byford and the gang to roll out what they've done best for the last thirty-five years, a hard-rockin', head-bangin', air-punchin' rock show. Needless to say, they didn’t disappoint.
With absolutely no signs of dropping the pace, a 60-year-old Biff Byford leads his band into a set-list packed full of both the usual favourites as well as a sprinkling of tracks from the upcoming new album 'Call To Arms'.
Straight into battle Saxon open with new track 'Hammer Of The Gods'. A bold move perhaps but the crowd embrace it with open fist-clenched arms and the Saxon brand of heavy riffing and thunderous drum and bass, not forgetting Biff's superb howlings of some of the most bad-ass lyrics in rock, fill the house.
Announcing to the crowd that he and the band were going bleed our ears for the next two hours, Biff and Co launch into classics such as 'Heavy Metal Thunder', 'Never Surrender' and 'Motorcycle Man'. Paul Quinn and Nigel Scarratt's guitars weave faultlessly, flanking a militant Biff Byford who throughout the show commands the legion of rock fans.
The set powers on through another new song 'Back In '79', the rare live unleashing of 'Got To Rock' and the epic sing-a-long-inducing 'Dallas 1pm'. Another new track up next as album title-track 'Call To Arms' is unveiled to the masses followed by 'Dogs Of War', 'Demon Sweeney Todd' and 'Bands Played On'. You don’t always see a crowd having such a good time as they were tonight, especially with the £4.00 a pint price tag and idiotic security team, however, the Saxon army are rocking out, punching the air and screaming along to every track despite the red-hot temperatures on the front line. Biff acknowledges the response and shouts out his praise for the outstanding crowd, dousing the first few rows with some much sought after water!
Next out of the armoury is 'Man & Machine', 'The Eagle Has Landed' and the awesome 'Play It Loud' before the brooding new 'When Doomsday Comes' sees the venue bathed in an eerie red glow as steam rises from the first few rows like a genuine scene from...err...doomsday.
The set closes with an epic rendition of 'To Hell & Back Again' before the anthemic 'Denim & Leather' ensures everyone does a great job of “setting the spirit freeeeee”. 'Princess Of The Night' ends the set but we all know there is no way a sweat-soaked Saxon are heading to the showers just yet.
Following the roaring chants of “SAXON! SAXON! SAXON!”, the band return to the stage for an encore performance. Rolling out the big guns in the shape of 'Crusader' and the epic '747 (Strangers in the Night)', it sends the crowd over the top before closing with one final encore where both the mighty 'Strong Arm of the Law' and the cataclysmic 'Wheeeeeeeels Of Steel' sign-off a monumental show.
'Call To Arms' is Saxon's upcoming 19th studio album. The album is due to be released on 23 May 2011.
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With the heat matching the same temperatures as that on the surface of the sun, anticipation was near to boiling point as we waited for Biff Byford and the gang to roll out what they've done best for the last thirty-five years, a hard-rockin', head-bangin', air-punchin' rock show. Needless to say, they didn’t disappoint.
