SAXON's twenty-fifth studio album is done. Speaking to Chas Byrne of Express FM, guitarist Brian Tatler confirmed that "Gods Of Thunder" has been mixed by Andy Sneap — the JUDAS PRIEST guitarist and longtime SAXON producer — and handed over. "It's all done… It's in the can. It was sent off to the record label. So that's coming in January."
Biff Byford has since put a date on it himself, telling France's Last Ride podcast that the record arrives Friday, January 22, 2027, with pre-orders opening in early September alongside a first single and video, likely on seven-inch vinyl.
Tatler, a founding member of fellow NWOBHM institution DIAMOND HEAD, described a writing process that runs on volume rather than filtering. "I think I probably try and write in a style that might work for SAXON. There's probably a few ideas I've had that I've thought, 'Mm, this doesn't really sound SAXON-ish.'" Byford told him to stop guessing: "Well, it's no good trying to second-guess what I like. Just send me everything you've got, and I'll decide." Twice Tatler sent riffs he expected to be rejected, and both times Byford took them.
Everybody writes at home, the pool goes to Byford, and he makes the call — he has to sing it and write the lyrics. The band then rehearsed the material in Brighton before tracking drums, bass and guitars. "Of course, they've got it down to a fine art because… [SAXON has] done 25 albums. That's a lot of work."
The bigger question was Byford's health. He had emergency triple bypass surgery in 2019, a procedure for atrial flutter in 2024, and was treated for bowel cancer through 2025, which cost SAXON ten summer shows and forced further cancellations. Tatler says the worry did not survive first rehearsal. "I think everybody was a little concerned as to how he would perform and how he would be. And when we just started rehearsing, he was, like, back to normal… His voice sounded really strong, and I think we were all pleasantly surprised. And he's been great. These gigs have been fantastic."
He watches it from a few feet behind. "I'm amazed at his confidence and his charisma. He handles the crowd… not everybody can do that."
The "Gods Of Thunder" U.K. and Ireland tour will resurrect SAXON's 30-foot mechanised Eagle, built in the early 1980s from airport runway landing lights, at every date except Cardiff.
Source: blabbermouth.net