Saxon
United Kingdom
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Saxon: The British Heavy Metal Stalwarts
Saxon is a British heavy metal band that emerged from South Yorkshire in the late 1970s as a foundational force of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). The band achieved major commercial success in the early 1980s with a string of gold and platinum albums, cementing their status as one of the genre's most enduring and influential acts.
Early career
Formed in 1977 in the town of Barnsley, the band originally performed under the name Son of a Bitch before adopting the Saxon moniker. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1979 on the French Carrere label, showcased a raw, energetic blend of hard rock and burgeoning metal that quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase across the UK and Europe.
Breakthrough
Saxon's breakthrough arrived in 1980 with their third studio album, Wheels of Steel. The record was a massive success, reaching No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and achieving platinum certification. This triumph was swiftly followed by the gold-certified Strong Arm of the Law later that same year, establishing Saxon as headliners and proving the commercial viability of the NWOBHM movement.
Key tracks
Wheels of Steel — This anthemic title track became the band's signature song and a definitive NWOBHM anthem.
747 (Strangers in the Night) — A fan-favorite epic from Wheels of Steel known for its dynamic structure and powerful live performances.
Denim and Leather — The title track from their 1981 album served as a rallying cry for the heavy metal community worldwide.
Princess of the Night — A classic heavy metal track celebrating steam locomotives, showcasing the band's knack for powerful, melodic riffs.
Crusader — The title track from their 1984 album demonstrated Saxon's ability to craft ambitious, thematic metal songs.
The band maintained a prolific output throughout the 1980s, with albums like Power & the Glory (1983) and Innocence Is No Excuse (1985) performing strongly on charts internationally. After a period of fluctuating commercial fortunes, Saxon experienced a powerful creative resurgence in the late 1990s and 2000s, releasing a consistent series of critically acclaimed albums such as Metalhead (1999) and Into the Labyrinth (2009) that reaffirmed their core heavy metal sound.
Their legacy was honored with collaborations like performing with metal legends Judas Priest on the 1980 "British Steel" tour and later sharing stages with contemporaries like Motörhead. Saxon has continued to record and tour relentlessly, releasing new studio albums regularly into the 2020s and performing at major European festivals, proving their unwavering dedication to the heavy metal genre they helped define.
Fans of Saxon's classic British metal sound often appreciate the work of similar artists. Judas Priest shares the same foundational influence and powerful dual-guitar attack. Iron Maiden emerged from the same NWOBHM scene, crafting intricate, epic metal anthems. Motörhead delivered a rawer, faster-paced brand of rock and roll-infused metal. Diamond Head is another key NWOBHM act whose riff-oriented style heavily influenced a generation of metal musicians.
Saxon's music remains a staple on classic rock FM stations and dedicated heavy metal radio streams, where their anthems from the 1980s are regularly featured alongside their newer, powerful material. Their enduring appeal ensures they are included in the rotations of online rock radio stations and independent music radio stations focused on guitar-driven music.
Listeners can discover the powerful catalog of Saxon, from their NWOBHM classics to their modern metal anthems, by tuning into the various rock and metal radio stations available on onairium.com, where their music continues to resonate with fans around the globe.
