The British heavy metal legends produce a series of alternative takes on classic favourites to herald a worthy new entry to the Saxonian Institute of Metal.

There is always feral beauty in a raging beast…and with Unplugged and Strung Up, Saxon’s selection of unique, fresh and adventurous interpretations of material previously heard only with raw heavy metal thunder, the point is triumphantly underscored.

Unplugged and Strung Up reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic Saxon songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, UK earlier this year, Biff and co re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized the towering likes of “The Eagle Has Landed” and “Crusader” by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. “Frozen Rainbow” from the band’s 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, whilst “Red Star Falling” soars and sweeps the emotions with it’s orchestrally-arranged dovetail.

As if this reinvention wasn’t enough, Saxon superfans and collectors can purchase a digipak version of the release which will include 2002’s storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-metal re-recorded hits Heavy Metal Thunder. Featuring staple Saxon stormers such as “Motorcycle Man”, “Strong Arm of the Law” and “Dallas 1pm” it is a quintessential part of any collection.

The full-track listing for Unplugged and Strung Up is as follows:

Stallions of the highway (Remix)
Crusader (Orchestral version)
Battle Cry
The Eagle Has Landed (orchestral version)
Red Star Falling (orchestral version)
Broken heroes (orchestral version)
Call To Arms (orchestral version)
Militia Guard
Forever Free (Re-recorded version)
Just Let Me Rock (Re-recorded version)
Frozen Rainbow (Acoustic version)
Iron wheels (live acoustic version)
Requiem (Acoustic version)
Coming home (acoustic version)

The full track-listing for Heavy Metal Thunder is as follows:

Heavy Metal Thunder

Strong Arm of the Law

Power & The Glory

And the Bands Played On

Crusader

Dallas 1PM

Princess of the Night

Wheels of Steel

747 (Strangers in the night)

Motorcycle Man

Never Surrender

Denim & Leather

Backs to the Wall

The standard single CD of Unplugged and Strung Up will come in a jewel case, and a double-vinyl gatefold sleeve version of the release will also be available. The digipack will be a two-disc version of the release featuring the bonus disc Heavy Metal Thunder, and there will be a digital release of the same.

www.saxon747.com

www.udr-music.com

Tourdates:

25.10.2013 SE Baltic Sea The Rock Classic Cruise*
07.11.2013 CH Zurich Club Hallenstadion
09.11.2013 FR Paris Zenith
10.11.2013 LU Luxembourg Rockhal*
11.11.2013 BE Deinze Brielpoort
13.11.2013 UK Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
14.11.2013 UK Newcastle City Hall
15.11.2013 DE Ferienpark Weißenhäuser Strand Metal Hammer Paradise*
16.11.2013 UK London O2 Academy Brixton
18.11.2013 UK Northampton Roadmenders*
19.11.2013 UK Wolverhampton Civic Hall
20.11.2013 UK Manchester O2 Apollo
22.11.2013 UK Glasgow 02 Academy
23.11.2013 UK Preston 53 Degrees*
24.11.2013 UK Buckley Tivoli*
26.11.2013 DE Berlin Velodrom
27.11.2013 DE Frankfurt Jahrhunderthalle
29.11.2013 DE Stuttgart Schleyerhalle
30.11.2013 DE Munich Zenith
02.12.2013 DE Düsseldorf MEH
03.12.2013 DE Hamburg Sporthalle
04.12.2013 NL Leeuwarden Romein*
06.12.2013 DK Horsens Forum
07.12.2013 SE Malmo KB*
08.12.2013 NO Oslo Centrum Scene
10.12.2013 FI Helsinki Hartwell Arena
12.12.2013 SE Linkoping Cloetta Center

*solo Saxon dates
All other together with Motörhead