British heavy metal legends SAXON have announced the "Gods Of Thunder" World Tour, kicking off with an 11-date run across the U.K. and Ireland in February 2027 — and they are bringing back one of the most iconic stage props in metal history to mark the occasion.
The first leg, billed as a "Castles & Eagles Production," runs February 13–27, 2027, with shows in Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton and London. For the first time in years, SAXON will once again fly their legendary 30-foot mechanised Eagle — the colossal stage centrepiece originally built in 1982 — above every show on the run except Cardiff, where venue constraints ground the great bird.
"We wanted to make the 'Gods Of Thunder' U.K. and Ireland tour extra special," said frontman Biff Byford. "And what better way than to fly our beloved SAXON Eagle again… Get ready for take-off!"
The tour is tied to a major new chapter for the NWOBHM pioneers. SAXON will release their 25th studio album on January 22, 2027, with pre-orders opening in September 2026. The first single will also arrive in September, including a collectible seven-inch vinyl edition — a fitting format for a band whose roots stretch back to the vinyl-fuelled birth of British heavy metal at the turn of the 1980s.
Few bands have proven as durable or as consistent as SAXON. More than four decades after helping define the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal alongside classics such as 'Wheels Of Steel' and 'Strong Arm Of The Law,' the band remains a formidable live force, and the return of the Eagle signals their intent to make the upcoming campaign a celebration of everything that made them icons.
Tickets for the "Gods Of Thunder" U.K. and Ireland tour go on sale Friday, June 26, 2026 at 9 a.m. via www.saxon747.com.