Saxon - Corn Exchange, Cambridge (UK) - 24 February 2018
Saxon are touring in support of their latest release, 'Thunderbolt', playing some UK dates before hitting The States with Black Star Riders. You could say this was a warm up, although Saxon never treated it as such. Things began with a turn for the worse as the venue was emptied due to a fire alarm which then had things running about fifteen minutes late.
Fortunately, this did not dampen spirits as the band took to the stage with new song 'Thunderbolt' before going straight into 'Sacrifice'. In fact, the new album was well represented with tracks such as 'Nosferatu', 'Sniper' and 'Secret Of Flight' getting aired tonight. What is very noticeable is how the newer material has a more bludgeon style of guitar attack, as opposed to the older material's more subtle and commercial leanings. Biff Byford is in fine voice and always has great banter with the audience, and he introduced 'They Played Rock 'N' Roll' as a tribute to Lemmy Kilminster, something that was well received.
The whole band have enormous energy on stage and every song is delivered like their lives depended on it! The classics are all on offer, from 'Dallas 1PM' to 'Never Surrender', not forgetting what are considered the bands signature tunes '747 (Strangers In The Night)' and 'Wheels Of Steel'.
What sets Saxon apart from the competition is that they truly haven't lost any of their Metal thunder in their later years, because line-up changes, a revamped sound and consistently releasing new music have kept the band in the here and now.
Ray Paul
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