Saxon to release New Studio album SACRIFICE Music News by Rob W - February 23, 20130 With a storming new stomp in their boots and a renewed, lithe swagger to their legendary sound, Saxon will release “Sacrifice”, on 4th March 2013 through UDR Records. Taking a sharper, re-invigorated approach to the production, on this, their 20th album, Saxon have produced 10 of their strongest, heaviest and most inspired songs for many-a-year, and a more than worthy successor to their last album “A Call To Arms”. “Less tricks, more power!” roars frontman and founding father Biff Byford, “my brief to the band was to be raw, be real and not be afraid to look back at the old classic material for inspiration.” The album was recorded at LS Studios in Yorkshire and was produced by Byford with Andy Sneap mixing and engineering by Jacky Lehmann. It fairly bristles with muscular metallic intent, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt’s guitar work the best it’s ever been, while Biff’s vocals sound fresher and livelier. The songwriting too harks back to a classic era in Saxon’s history, with the likes of ‘Warriors Of The Road’, ‘Wheels Of Terror’ and ‘Stand Up And Fight’ evoking the halcyon days of yore with a contemporary twist, the classic Saxon sound absorbing the snarl, ferocity and attitude of contemporary bands (and fans) such as Megadeth, as evidenced by the crunching title cut ‘Sacrifice’. “It’s certainly been done from a more early ‘80s thrashier perspective,” explains Biff, “and it’s not just guitars bashing away willy-nilly, they’ve got a fresh drive, purpose and perspective.” Besides the new material, Saxon will also be adding some unique recordings of revisited classics to certain formats of the release, also produced by Byford and mastered by Andy Sneap, including an orchestral version of Crusader and an acoustic version of Frozen Rainbow. “From the songs to the production, I wanted to focus on the raw aspects which made us great In the first place,” concludes Biff, “And living in that rawness, combined with some great classic Saxon-songwriting, has in my opinion, made Saxon fresher than ever. See the making of SACRIFICE here http://youtu.be/M4Sn6rbxgdE Don’t forget to catch Saxon on tour: Date City Venue Box Office Websites APRIL 2013 Thu 18th Leamington Spa Assembly 0844 854 1358 www.leamingtonassembly.com/ Fri 19th Nottingham Rock City 0845 413 4444 www.rock-city.co.uk Sat 20th Newcastle O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 o2academynewcastle.co.uk Sun 21st Glasgow O2 ABC 0844 844 4747 www.o2abcglasgow.co.uk Tue 23rd Manchester HMV Ritz 0844 478 0898 www.hmvritz.com Wed 24th Leeds O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 www.o2academyleeds.co.uk Fri 26th Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 0844 478 0898 www.wolvescivic.co.uk Sat 27th London* O2 Shepherds Bush Empire 0844 871 8803 www.kililive.com Sun 28th Bristol O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 www.o2academybristol.co.uk MAY 2013 Wed 1st Dublin Academy +353 1 877 9999 www.theacademydublin.com Fri 3rd Belfast Mandela Hall 02890 971 062 http://www.qubsu-ents.com/events Sun 5th Oxford Academy 0844 477 2000 http://www.o2academyoxford.co.uk/ Mon 6th Falmouth Princess Pavillion 01326 211222 http://www.carrickleisureservices.org.uk/