SAXON frontman Biff Byford has posted a studio update confirming that work on the band's 25th studio album is progressing well, putting to rest any lingering concerns about the legendary vocalist's health following his cancer operation in 2025. Photos shared on the band's social media show drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter, and guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler — the DIAMOND HEAD co-founder who joined SAXON's lineup in 2020 — laying down tracks with producer Andy Sneap at his Backstage Studios facility in Derbyshire, England.
Byford, who underwent successful treatment for a cancer diagnosis in early 2025, reports he is "feeling great and full of energy" — a relief for fans who have followed the 73-year-old's career since SAXON helped pioneer the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the early 1980s alongside IRON MAIDEN and DEF LEPPARD. The frontman's powerful, immediately recognizable voice remains the backbone of SAXON's sound, and early reports suggest the new material ranks among the band's strongest in years.
The album follows 2024's acclaimed "Hell, Fire And Damnation," which was hailed as one of SAXON's best records in decades and demonstrated that the Barnsley veterans remain a creative force to be reckoned with. Producer Sneap, himself a respected guitarist (SABBAT, HELL) and one of metal's most sought-after studio engineers, has worked with SAXON on multiple recent albums and brings a modern clarity to their classic NWOBHM sound without sacrificing its raw power. The new record is targeted for late 2026 release via Silver Lining Music, with a European tour expected to be announced in the coming months. Byford has also been working on his autobiography, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2026.