In a new interview with Uruguay’s The Dark Melody, SAXON frontman Biff Byford was asked about a possible follow-up to the band’s 24th studio album, „Hell, Fire And Damnation“, which came out in January 2024 via Silver Lining Music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): „Yeah, we’re writing at the moment. We’ve been writing for about six or seven weeks now, off and on. So yeah, we’re coming in with some ideas and I’ve got some ideas for songs, for titles. And, yeah, it’s coming along.
„It will be out next year, I think,“ he continued. „We’re probably gonna start recording in November, when we finish touring. We’ll probably go in and record the drums and bass and the basic guitars and some guide vocals then. So, yeah, we’re pretty much on it. We’re working towards the new album. It’s going well.“
Two months ago, Biff reflected on „Hell, Fire And Damnation“, which marked SAXON‚s first release with new guitarist Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD). Biff told FaceCulture: „I think it’s been a natural progression with our following and the fans with our music. Brian coming into the band added a little bit of a different dynamic to the music writing. So I think that was for a good thing. I think the new album, ‚Hellfire‘, has been voted ‚Album Of The Year‘ on quite a lot of sites and things, so obviously we struck a little bit of good scene with the album, a good flow. So hopefully the next one will be just as good, if not better… Well, it can’t always be better, but let’s hope. I mean, ‚Hellfire‘ is gonna be hard to beat. That’s a pretty perfect album, I think.“
„Hell, Fire And Damnation“ was produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering.
„I think this album’s one of the best he’s done sound-wise, and he’s done a lot of albums,“ Biff previously declared. „It has a really raw, vibrant sound… if you compress the total time making this album, it was four weeks tops… you can hear everything brilliantly, nothing’s overcomplicated, nothing’s over compressed. The guitar sounds are fucking immense, they’re just great, raw guitar sounds. And we haven’t done a lot of overdubbing on there; it’s just playing. I really, really like it.“
In early 2023, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by Tatler.
Brian has been touring with fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim „Nibbs“ Carter and Byford since mid-2023, but continues to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.
Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON‚s current lineup.
Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as „Denim And Leather“, „Princess Of The Night“, „Wheels Of Steel“ and „Power And Glory“.
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SAXON Has Been Working On New Music For 'About Six Or Seven Weeks Now': 'It's Going Well', Says BIFF BYFORD – BLABBERMOUTH.NET
