PHOTO GALLERY: Day One of Hard Rock Hell X - Photos

PHEW! Hard Rock Hell X. Three days of glorious mayhem. You'll have read the reviews. Below are a selection of photographs from Day One, Thursday, 10th November (read the review here).

We've many more to come, but here's the Thursday lot of photos from Lizzie Torbitt. Just double click on the first and you can use the arrow keys to see the rest. Or scroll down...

LIVE REVIEW: Hard Rock Hell X opens with a bang

FOR 10 years Hard Rock Hell has capitalised on being different; by the fans, for the fans - an ethos and aesthetic that resonates with artists and audiences. That it has lasted for a decade is not just a tribute to the organisers, but also to the fact that this type of music still has a place in the 21st Century.

To mark its 10th Birthday Hard Rock Hell set out a plan for a proper party. Kicking off proceedings - King Kong, scantily clad dancers and fire...lots of fire.

And that was before the first amplified note resonated in the main arena.

Six of the best, however, did open Hard Rock Hell X, with The Texas Flood bringing blues infused rock and a sense that they needed to play full-on for those that journeyed from near and far. The sense of groove that was imparted from start to finish.

Hard working, hard playing The Amorettes have garnered a reputation for no-nonsense rock 'n' roll, delivered with panache and passion. Coming on stage in front of a packed main arena there was no sense that they were intimidated, but then again they have opened for the likes Europe and Black Star Riders meant there were no nerves, no sense that they were doing anything other what they are best at, entertaining.

Maybe it was the age range there, but NWOBHM act Praying Mantis drew a healthy, noisy welcome. From the days of the Friday Rock Show when people stayed up listening late, underneath the covers wishing they were old enough to get out and rock out.

That sensibility of sheer pleasure of music and memories played out in full with purity.

Northern Ireland band Sweet Savage harken from the same era. Best know for Metallica covering 'Killing Time' they, however, have a range of songs that are relatively new, and Raymie is a commanding frontman.

'Regenerator' is the stand-out song of a set that was balanced, blasted out with bombast and brilliance.

Still focussed on the 80s, an era when metal still had the attention of the mainstream Dio carved a path post his Sabbath days. While the relationship with his band and Vivian Campbell in particular soured the music of the first three albums had, still does, capture a period in time.

Last in Line as a band have newer songs, but the HRH audience were in ecstasy when it came to the likes of 'Don't Talk to Strangers' and, of course, Holy Diver'.

What is remarkable is that Last in Line is not a tribute act. Campbell has always been emphatic that as the authors of much of the songs they have as much right to play them as anyone else. Andy Freeman does not imitate RJD, but rather uses the tonality and range of his voice to add the right touches to the live performance.

The songs are as memorable today as they were when débuted, they conjur memories, conjur a sense of abandonment, and a sense that the audience is bonded with the band and the song.

There is no sense that "we wanna getaway" from Last In Line.

And, as the evening drew to a close there was no other way to conclude the first night's partying with Hayseed Dixie and their unique take on the music adored by generations. Whether it was hillbilly 'Ace of Spades' or 'We're Not Gonna Take It' the audience knew and loved every piece of the Dixie take on the tunes.

The bedraggled and bemused audience, beaming from ear-to-ear announced their pleasure with toasts and roars that HRH X was well and truly underway.

Golden oldies...

THERE comes a time of life when each and every band must hang up their axes, retire the mic and step away from the monitors. Band break-ups and age can often be the cue to look for the pipe, slippers and comfy armchair. Well thankfully UFO have decided that there time has not come yet.

Because for a band that started life in 1969 Phil Mogg, Andy Parker, Paul Raymond and Vinnie Moore still know how to deliver a power-packed set.

A sold-out Spring and Airbrake had its arse well and truly warmed up with Sweet Savage’s first gig of 2012 before a series of summer festival dates across Europe. While many of crowd will only know Killing Time from Metallica’s cover version, title track of the 2012 album Regenerator is immense live.

UFO – well they know how to Let It Roll, and that was precisely how they opened up; sort of easing the crowd into a finely balanced set which included a nice cull of tracks from new platter Seven Deadly and the crowd pleasers which could have been plucked from Strangers in the Night.

Yes – if one was a cynic one could view this type of tour as a pension gig for the band and a nostalgia trip for ageing rockers.

Sod that! Each and every one of the last three gigs in Belfast, including this one has seen the band open a cracking bunch from their current releases. From Monkey Puzzle to The Visitor and now to Seven Deadly UFO are relevant in a world where many bands have stood still, failed to develop, and have released nothing new.

While it is reassuring to hear tracks from Seven Deadly (buy it now if you want to hear how relevant UFO are to the modern ‘classic rock’ genre – and you really got to unpick that phrase to understand exactly it means!) a few from the Visitor and more recent albums might not have appealed to the Phenomenon era fans, but for die-hards would have demonstrated a commitment to their commitment and perhaps opened a few eyes to the dynamism of these bunch of nearly pensioners. Heck I’d even beg for the likes of Profession of Violence.

As to the rest of the set: Too Hot To Handle; yep, Only You Can Rock Me; yep; pointless banter; yep, Shoot Shoot; yep, Vinni Moore, guitar solo; yep, Doctor Doctor; yep, Lights Out; yep etc. If you’re a fan you’ll know the score.

Delivered with aplomb and a backing choir of several hundred increasingly hoarse fans UFO proved that they, on form, really are one of the very veteran bands who can still punch with the best. And on Andy Parker’s birthday…we thought it best not to ask his age because while some may regard them as Golden Oldies they are simply glorious on stage!


As your faithful scribe was not able  to make it in to see Vain, owing to being distracted by Guinness, any reviews of this (preferably in something approximating grammatically correct English) would be appreciated: we can't pay in anything other than our gratitude.

Fer Foo sake

WELL one of the worst kept secrets in rock in Norn Iron was confirmed tonight when it was said that Foo Fighters would be headlining Tennents Vital Day One at Boucher Road playing fields on August 21st. That's a positive tick in the rock column...

Black Keys as support....nah. Stone Roses Day two, definite no...

Likelihood of Lemmy or Queen's of the Stone Age joining Foos...don't hold yer breath!

So, to recap...Tennents Vital has Foo Fighters...

This is welcome news, of course, but in the meantime I'm off to listen to some F*ckhammer and I'll Eat Your Face and prep for UFO and Sweet Savage tomorrow night (i.e. beer, Jack and Seven Deadly...figure it out yourself because I've never been able to!)

Beat the Bullet

WITH the UFO ticket winners drawn (congrats to NJ and SB, thanks to everyone who entered!) there still remains the small matter of Wednesday night.

Ormeau Avenue might just explode as there is so much rock in the Limelight and the Spring and Airbrake.

Old codgers UFO are not, and with new album Seven Deadly, they've proved that they can still teach the young 'uns a few classic metal licks and tricks. Backing up UFO are local NWOBHM heroes Sweet Savage. Honoured and acclaimed by Metallica for being the local torchbearers for that scene they remain relevant and still lay it down with a back catalogue many of their peers in the early 80s would envy. £20? a bargain - some still available on the door.

That not enough rock for you?

Well then, also on Wednesday the glam stylings and pouting of Mr Davy Vain will be tearing up the Limelight as Vain tour to back their seventh album, Enough Rope. Support comes from Support comes from Stala & So (featuring 3 exmembers of LORDI) and Ancara. Tix are still available at £17.

And with Vain hitting the stage around 9:30ish, there's a good chance to see one hell of a shedload of rock on Wednesday with both Vain and UFO a possibility for the nimble who can nip the 25 yards or so between the two venues...why not? Sure what else would you be doing?

Hours tick closer...

THE hours are ticking closer to the closing time for the UFO ticket competition.


Your chance to win one of two pair of tickets for the Wedenesday 21st March show in the Spring and Airbrake closes on Saturday 17th March at 23.59.

To win - just answer this simple question:
What is the name of UFO's new album?

Send your answers here by Saturday 23.59 17th March.

NB - as there was a slight problem with email on Wedensday we will accept two entries per person - see how kind we are!

Doctor, Doctor Only a competition can rock me!

WANT to win a pair of tickets to see UFO and Sweet Savage at the Spring & Airbrake on March 21st? Then keep reading! [Or scroll down to the end if you don't need sold on the idea of free UFO tickets!]

First off, why should you bother with UFO and Sweet Savage in the first place?

If you need me to answer that I suggest you hand in your hard rock and metal club membership card, or re-sit your Rocker GCSE right away.

Neither UFO not Sweet Savage have reached the mega-tour status of Maiden or Metallica yet both bands have had a huge influence on not only those two bands, but on a legion of hard rock and metal acts.

UFO kicked off their career in 1969 as a space rock outfit, before successfully pioneering a twin guitar attack that provided power, ranged against the melody and passion of singer Phil Mogg. Classic albums tumbled off the shelves, arguably culminating with the double live Strangers in the Night (the template for basically the majority of live albums throughout the 80s and 90s).

UFO singer par excellence Phil Mogg croons for another stunned set of
Marshall stacks...and a willing audience too!

The hits were plentiful: Doctor, Doctor; Mother Mary, Only You Can Rock Me and so on (those re-sitting their Rocker GCSE are permitted to download these on Spotify or iTunes, but beware, the sudden intake of such heady classic rock may make you a tad dizzy until you become acclimatised!)

But as with many great acts UFO were plagued with fall-outs, drink and drug issues, line-up changes and a largely indifferent media. Did they quit? Well they did for a wee while, but have fought back and fought back in style: this is a band well past middle age, still gigging and still releasing new material that stretches their admitted wrinkled hides that little bit further.

Many a man (or woman) who has reached the age of Phil Mogg, Paul Raymond, or even Vinnie Moore and Andy Parker, would consider taking it a wee bit easy and heading for the cabaret tours. Not so UFO, who have returned - yet again - to Belfast and have -yet again - released another fine album in the shape of Seven Deadly. Tracks such as Angel Station, Burn Your House Down and Fight Night will stand up against many a so-called classic rock artiste of today.

And, as if having UFO returning to Belfast in another display of loyalty to Norn Iron, which many acts could learn from, there is also the small matter of Sweet Savage as support.

If you're a fan of Metallica then you should know that 'Tallica covered Killing Time; if you're a fan of Dio you should know that the ex-Savage guitarist who goes by the surname Campbell strummed a few chords for Ronnie, and went on to Whitesnake, Def Leppard etc. You should also, if you are to achieve an A* in your Rocker GCSE, know that Sweet Savage was at the heart of that heady time of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, when Tommy Vance ruled Friday nights, when Maiden, Diamond Head, White Spirit, Saxon, Tank and a host of others were saving our souls from New Wave and terrible hair-dos.

Like UFO, Sweet Savage are still out there turning in new tracks and great live shows. Last year's Regeneration album showcased a band that could bridge the 80s with more contemporary metal, without "selling out".

Okay - you get it why you should go? What? You only want to see UFO play Shoot Shoot and Lights Out and Savage play Killing Time - boy are you in for a night to delight your innocent wee cotton socks.

And - Belfastmetalheadsreunited have teamed up with the ever-generous folks at CDC Leisure to offer you two pairws of tickets to UFO and Sweet Savage on March 21st at the Spring & Airbrake. For clarity that means two winners will get a set of two tickets each - or in simpler terms, if you win you can bring a mate/partner/spouse/live-in lover/random long-haired dude or dudette you met on the bus. A pair of tickets means two, and we have two pair on offer!

To win - just answer this simple question:
What is the name of UFO's new album?

Send your answers here by Saturday 23.59 17th March.

Competition special!

LOOK out for an extra special competition coming your way tonight - up for grabs? Two pairs of tickets to see the mighty UFO, who have just released one of their best records in a decade, the awesome Seven Deadly.

And if that wasn't enough on the same bill at the Spring and Airbrake on 21st March are Norn Iron's own Sweet Savage: and if you don't know enough about Sweet Savage consider this: Raymie was flown to the Filmore East in San Fran to join Metallica on stage for their anniversary gig.

Classic rock par excellence, NWOBHM heroes all on one night and a competition for tickets from our friends at CDC Leisure...we're almost too generous to y'all!

Check back later tonight for details on how to enter!

Gig-tastic time

OKAY peeps - who'd got the beer tokens? It's a fantastic few months of gigs coming up. Can we handle it all?

First up, if you were planning to go see Korn or You Me At Six...if you haven't got your tickets yet it's too late: both gigs are sold out. But if you want your fix of hard rock and metal there's plenty out there!

This Friday night Nasa Assassin and Trucker Diablo are at Ma Nelson's; and if you want a full listing of local  rock and metal head over to RockRadioNI's gig guide or the Distortion Project pages.

Meanwhile there are still tickets available for Amon Amarth (with Grand Magus and In Solitude) at the Mandella on 18th March, UFO and Sweet Savage on the 21st March at the Spring and Airbrake, with Vain playing the same night at The Limelight.

If you can still keep up Ministry are playing the Mandella on July 17th, Ice Earth are at the Spring and Airbrake on 8th August. Hang on to your hats then because WASP will be bringing their 30th Anniversary tour to the Ulster Hall on 24th September, with Y&T playing the Spring & Airbrake on the 29th of that month....

Damn it, I've probably missed a few out, but....who's heading to Download?

Sabbath [possibly the last time to see Ozzy, Tony and Geezer play together live], Metallica, Anthrax, Slash, Machine Head, Black Label Society and a host of others.

Who's going?

Paying tribute, honouring the great, giving for the future

THERE may have been those who noted this before, but I caught this on Total Rock earlier today:

IRISH BANDS PAY TRIBUTE TO LATE HEROES


There's to be a charity night in memory of late Sweet Savage guitarist Trevor 'Flinky' Fleming and Mamas Boys drummer Tommy McManus at the Spring & Airbrake in Belfast on September 24. The bill is to feature Sweet Savage, The Pat McManus Band, Million $ Reload and the Stevie K Band. The proceeds will be split between The Belfast City Hospital Cancer Unit, Northern Ireland Cancer Fund For Children and the N.I. Hospice.

Right y'all! September 24th; Spring and Airbrake: honouring the fallen by contributing to tomorrow. Rock and metal stands with those in need.

For all of us true fans in 'Norn Iron' Tommy and Trev will never, ever be forgotten: honour their memory and be there on 24/09/11!
\m/

Awarding the very best of Norn Iron's rock and metal

IN November a small-time production crew going by the name of MTV will be dragging their preening princes and princess of pop-tastic stupidity over to Belfast for the MTV Europe Music Video Awards

Now forget that stupidity and put the really important date in November in your diary.

November 5th - and the BELFAST ROCK AND METAL AWARDS at The Empire Music Hall.

To quote event organiser Mark Ashby: "For too long, the wonderful rock scene that we all love has been overlooked by the mainstream media, so we're going to get our own back and shove it right in their faces.

"This is the first awards ceremony dedicated solely and exclusively to the rock and metal scene right here in Norn Iron."

The first set of categories include:

• Best Band
• Best Live Show
• Best Visiting Band
• Best Marketing Campaign and
• The Gary Moore Inspiration Award

 As if that wasn't enough, playing on the night will be:

• Sweet Savage
• Trucker Diablo
• Triggerman and
• Last Known Addiction

 Are we excited? Hell Yeah!

More detail soon...

 

Perception isn't everything - Blaze into 2011 for Blaze

WHEN it comes to what we see and what we take as read, then all too often we screw it up. Looking back on December 2010 all we'll remember is the week of snow and frosts. So much airtime was taken up talking about record low temperatures in Ballygobackward that we'll not remember that the last week of the year had temperatures well above the seasonal average.

Perception versus reality?

While there way too many afflicted with no water and no heating, the blame game goes on. No-one seems to notice that under-investment for years has meant that our water systems are not capable - nor where they designed to - of coping with excessive rain, nor massive drainage of meltwater. Still it is easier to play the blame game when it's not your house flooded.

Perception versus reality?

That loathsome, contrived, faked and fucked up show called the X-Factor - and the show that claims Britain has Talent, then decides not to seek out any genuine talent - had more people read about it in red-top tabloids and shouty girly mags than actually watched the waste of televisual space

Perception versus reality?

Another confusion comes when it comes to the perception of fans of hard rock and heavy metal. According to any wank stain sneary, shoe gazing waste of oxygen, NME reading, music fashionista it's all a cliché and the fans are 'just so not us' except when they fawn over a DC gig and get all retro with Ozzy. According to the popular press it's all self-obsessed preening and silly air guitaring. Guess what...no; and you all know this already, we're just like the rest of humanity. We're a fucked up, screwed up, messed up collection of contradictions - but we're also willing to step up to the mark when needed, when required and when we can.

Perception can go fuck itself.

Some years ago I played a small part in a couple of charity gigs (hello to Laura who did most of the work, and whose idea it really was!) which saw metal and rock bands turn up, play, get drunk and fans turn up, get drunk etc. But it raised money for good causes as well as being a damn fine way to spend a Sunday.

Come Friday, 7th January metal will once again step up to the mark with Blazefest.

Sinocence, Sweet Savage, Honey for Christ, Nine Lies, devilmakesthree, and others will play the Spring and Airbrake in aid of Blaze's Appeal. Just visit the site to see why this is not only a good cause, but a damn good reason to get involved. Even if you can't go you can make a donation.

You see, like the rest of humanity we who come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, lengths of hair, backgrounds, classes and general strangeness can make an effort, no matter how small, to make a difference. In the war against, as Billy Connolly put it, the beige, we as a community of rock and metal fans know that while we are inclined to, as Trucker Diablo point out, Drink Beer, Destroy, we are also inclined to reach out a hand and help others.

Details of the gig can be found here

If you can't be there, make a donation, make a difference, and rock harder than ever!

Sad news

A NUMBER of reliable sources are reporting the sad news that Trevor Fleming, guitarist with Sweet Savage, has passed away.

At this time there is no formal confirmation, but if it is so then this will be sad loss to those nearest and dearest to Trev and the wider Sweet Savage family.

It is also time to reflect on the contribution Sweet Savage - in all its incarnations - made on the metal scene in Northern Ireland, and further afield.

Yes, everyone can quite that Vivian Campbell was once a member, and that Metallica covered Killing Time, but few can actually recall what the heady days of NWOBHM were like.

Sweet Savage were among the select few that were caught up in the heady days when the brashness of punk was combined with musicianship of early bands like Purple.

Savage were regarded highly enough to get airings on Tommy Vance's Friday Night Rock on BBC Radio 1, and if my pre-alzheimer's memory is not failing me they also got a play on the covetted John Peel Show, as well as a slot in Sounds before Kerrang! spun off from that mag. Hell, they were even granted a BBC Session recording.

The sound of Sweet Savage, despite the NWOBHM tag, was always rooted in a Northern Ireland that produced - and still does - many acts that defy genre classification. Yes, SLF, Van Morrison, The Undertones, Therapy?, Ash, The Answer etc can all be slotted into one pigeon hole or another, but really there is a magical chemistry about 'Norn Iron' music that Savage exemplified.

Sweet Savage endured much too-ing and fro-ing in terms of line-up and reformed several times from the ashes of previous incarnations. There is a much awaited new album that is virtually in the bag at the time of writing. We hope that it will be a suitably loud and rocking tribute to Trev.

There is one thing we want to hit on the head right here - Sweet Savage deserved none of the pre-pubescent twaddle posted about them on various forums whenever they were slotted to appear. For some children the appreciation of what a dedicated set of musicians can do will never really be known. Those children prefer to notch up the 'mega' gigs they've been to, or rave about some obscure act that few will know and even fewer will care about. If you don't 'like' a band, or they don't conform to your narrow definition of 'metal' then there is no need to publicly offer views that speak more about your own vanity rather than genuine critical comment.

Sweet Savage were in toto man enough to rise above such crap.

If you are fan of metal in its broadest sense, then the passing of Trev will cause you to pause in silent reflection.

I've seen Sweet Savage on quite a few occassions, but two will stand out in my boozee addled brain: ripping apart the Queen's Student Speakeasy one early Saturday evening in the 80s and a gig a couple of years back in the Spring and Airbrake. Neither one of these were perfect shows, but they were perfectly passionate metal affairs.

We offer our condolences and deepest sympathy to Trev's family, his bandmates and the many friends he gathered throughout the years. Rest In Peace

Oh how remiss of a child in time...

LET'S face it...this blog that has been going for almost five years has missed as many reviews and comments about gigs as it has actually reviewed and commented upon. [And for those others who review gigs please remember the legalities associated with reviews!]

So it is almost a month after the event but here's a quick review of Deep Purple's appearance in Belfast....Twas rather good!

That quick enough for you?

But seriously...we rather think that Purps are pushing at the boundaries of way tooooooo past it. While they performed rather well, and laid out greatest hits set there was a slight (and only there for discerning listeners)  air of a 'pension tour' about the show.

Rationally we were there to have fun and we did - so much fun that we can't remember from the end of the set to waking the next morn with the riff off Black Night stuck like a nagging thought in the mind.

And, that, ultimately was what Deep Purple's Belfast show was about...a trip down memory lane (Knebworth was better) that rewarded long time fans but broke no new ground.

In contrast - despite

 the negative comments from some - Sweet Savage are adding new songs to their NWOBHM catalogue.

 

Still - despite all - it was Deep Purple in Belfast and that deserves a 'Hell Yeah!'

It may be the last time that they are capable of a proper tour with a semblance of s proper line-up, but at least they played Belfast in the final round-up.

Sweet week of rock

Right, you've maxed out booking yer Metallica tickets and still counting the shakels after buying the Machine Head entry passes...so what to do in the meantime...

Well Thursday night sees Sweet Savage play an 'intimate' show at Auntie Annie's with Exit and Red Returned for three of your finest pounds

On Friday hard blues rockers the Quireboys touch down in the Spring & Airbrake...fun, fun, fun being the order of the day!

Saturday evening...you could do worse than heading along to the Limer for Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hades Lab, Less Help and Sadisture.

Sunday, for the geetar widdlers Joe Bonomassa will be showing up the teeny shredders at the Waterfront Hall.

Take a breath then you got The Answer on the 14th and MSG on the 19th! 

A savage night on Thursday

This Thursday the Distortion Project's monthly High Voltage gigs take a savage turn...yes Sweet Savage warm up for their 9th November Motorhead support slot with a Limelight appearance.

Support from Black Freeway, The Suspended Congress, and Mental Deficiency.

Doors 9pm and a palrty five pounds to gain admittance.

Savage head!

Sweet Savage have been confirmed as support for Motorhead's Belfast and Dublin dates in November; the latest in a series of high profile supports for the band.

With new material due soon after this gig, Sweet Savage will more than make up for missing out on The Damned, who are supporting 'Head in rest of UK, but will it make up for not seeing NWOBHM contemporaries Girlschool who are also on the UK line-up?

Sweet Savage are still at the top of their game and Girlschool are putting out 'My Mates and me' albums.

England, Greece, Belgium, and a few local lads

Saturday and metal chaos descends on the Mandella Hall with Full Metal Racket 2009.

Paradise Lost, Grim Reaper make up the English assault, with Greece represented by Rotting Christ and Airgead L'Amh, Thurisaz are the Belgian contenders. Local noise comes from Scald, Celtic Legacy, Sorrowfall, Sinnocence, For Ruin and Decayor.

Yep, it's an all ages mental metal day. Tickets (at an entirely reasonable £24.50 are still available from Ticketmaster or direct from www.fmr2009.com. Might even be a few at the door for the lucky ones!

And the next day the Mandella Hall gets a NWOBHM blitz from Saxon, Sweet Savage and Doro Pesch!

Too much rock to cope with...NOT!

The Answer at the Mandella Hall...Supersuckers at Spring & Airbrake...Cancer Bats at the same place...Full Metal Racket (Paradise Lost etc)..Saxon with Sweet Savage and Doro (at the Mandella)...NOFX...(at the Spring and Airbrake)

Seven days of deadly rock action with sounds to suit all tastes: extreme metal, doom rock, hard rock, NWOBHM, pop politico-punk, and Doro Pesch as well.

Is this too much rock to cope with. Nah!

Sometimes when you been away coming back is all the sweeter

SWEET Savage's return to the metal fold has been building for a wee while now. From being joined onstage by mega-metal star James Hetfield, through to last year's triumphant homecoming gig, the veteran Belfast metallers have been building up a head of steam.

This month they join a clasic NWOBHM metal line-up as part of Saxon's Battalions of Steel II tour, which touches down in Belfast 's Mandella Hall on April 26th.

"Can't wait," enthuses Sweet Savage's guitarist, Ian 'Speedo' Wilson. "We played with Saxon last year and are really looking forward to this 10-date tour. With Biff and the guys at Saxon and Doro [Pesch] it's shaping up to be a great tour for all of those, of any age, who love the vibe and feel of good old fashioned heavy metal."

But for Sweet Savage, other developments are just as important.

"We've just put the finishing touches to the new album, which is shaping up really well," said Speedo. "We're having a tough time deciding what we leave out!

"Before we end the Saxon tour we hope to have a release date set, and we're aleady looking forward to gigging in support of it. If you can make it along to the Mandella Hall, we might eve air a track or two!"

"Our return to form has been bubbling away for a while now, and we're all just delighted to be finally getting there with new material and feeling more enthusiastic than ever. Thanks to all of you out there who have kept the Sweet Savage dream alive!"

Tickets for gig are available at all usual outlets.