NWOBHM veterans Saxon show their power and glory in Eagles Over Hellfest, a classics heavy headlining set at last year’s Hellfest Festival in France.
Saxon – Eagles Over Hellfest
Release Date: 13 June 2025
Words: Robert Adams
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this album, I have a confession to make. I literally grew up with Saxon. I remember buying their self-titled debut album from Dexters in Greenock back in 1979, so it is safe to say that this will be a biased review.
Saxon headlined the second stage at Hellfest on Saturday, 29 June 2024, and delivered a masterclass in classic Heavy Metal. Out of their 14-song set, only two songs were released this century, Madame Guillotine and Hell, Fire And Damnation, both from their Hell, Fire And Damnation album.
The newest song played, besides the two already mentioned, was Crusader, from 1984.
Opening with the title track from their latest album, Hell, Fire And Damnation, Saxon mean business and sound incredible. Former Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler has slipped seamlessly into Saxon, and Biff Byford’s vocals are incredible for a man of his years.
We are then into a rousing Motorcycle Man and Power And Glory. Given the forty-plus years that these songs have been out, they do not sound dated.
That is the biggest compliment I can give Saxon. A good song is a good song, despite its age, and Saxon have plenty of good songs in their arsenal.
Madam Guillotine, again from Hell, Fire And Damnation, sounds great and does not sound out of place. Saxon have a very recognisable style, and it’s suited them very well through the decades.
The rest of the set is a wet dream for any old-school Saxon fans and youngsters looking to see just what the fuss is all about with this veteran British Metal band.
Heavy Metal Thunder, Dallas 1 PM, The Eagle Has Landed, and Strong Arm Of The Law fly by in a monumental blur of classic Heavy Metal. It is such a joy to hear these songs still being played by a band who are still at the top of their game.
Biff introduces the next song, saying, “This song was written about a festival, and tonight I dedicate it to Hellfest.” And The Bands Played On was written about the first Monsters Of Rock festival at Donington in 1980, when Saxon played, and the sentiment is still the same all these years later.
We are in the home straight now and Denim And Leather and Wheels Of Steel are true Metal classics. During Wheels Of Steel, Biff gets a GoPro camera and streams live to Saxon’s Facebook page.
747 (Strangers In The Night) sees drummer Nigel Glockler add some Neil Peart ride cymbal flourishes during the choruses.
Crusader and Princess Of The Night round off a truly wonderful trip down memory lane and were lapped up by a very appreciative crowd at Hellfest.
Eagles Over Hellfest is available via Silver Lining Music as a special twin pack with Hell, Fire And Damnation or can be purchased as a stand-alone double-coloured vinyl and digital release. For more details, visit lnk.to/EaglesOverHellfest.
It is well worth investigating, as Saxon more than prove that there is plenty of life left in the old dogs yet.
