Life hath no fury like a legend in full roar! and on February 4th, 2022,Saxonwill show just that to the world when they release their 23rdstudio album,Carpe Diem, throughSilver Lining Music, serving notice to anyone who ever felt otherwise that they remain both vanguards and masters of British Metal. Comprised of 10 titanic tracks bristling with steel-cladrifferyand proud intent, theBarnsely(UK) born band draw on a variety of ingredients from their career to forge what is their most dynamic release in many a year.
"It all starts with the riff,"saysfront manand co-founderBiff Byford,"if the riff speaks to me, then we're onour way. It's a very intense album, and that's all down to the fact that the essence of a great metal song is the riff that starts it, and this album has loads of them."
Unleashing today the title track's roll-back attack,this isSaxonattheir purest and most definitive;aggressively parading the pure metal flag and imploring fans old and new to gather and celebrate the very best of bothSaxonand the genre itself.
"In Latin it means 'seize the day' and I think it's a great thing to say;"continuesBiff"it's what the Romans used to say to each other on a regular basis, apparently, never having met one, I wouldn't know! But we'regonnadotheSeize the Dayworld tour, the album'sCarpe Diem, thissong'scalled "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)" and it's such a powerful thing to say."
Listen To/Watch "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)"here
Carpe Diemwill be available in a variety of formats and pre-orders can be placedat this location
Produced byAndy Sneap(Judas Priest,Exodus,AcceptandPriestguitarist) atBackstage Recording Studiosin Derbyshire withByfordandSneapmixing and mastering,Carpe Diemstrikes the ear as one of the most essential British metal statements of the last few years and not lacking in pace or bite, an album which willignite the joy in stalwart supporters and attract a whole new legion to theSaxonfold.
"We want every album we make to go platinum," saysBiffdefiantly. "We never make an album that we don't expect to be fantastic because there are no laurels around here, andas a band, we're always trying to do something a little bit new, a little bit daring. I love fast metal like "Princess of the Night" and "20,000 Feet", and I try and bring that style ofSaxoninto the music now, but in a more modern style. We don't sound like an old band on records because we're not sitting back on our past success, we're always trying to make a great album."
The genesis ofCarpe Diem'sfierce intensity lies in two extremely significant life events-"It's been a difficult two years,"offersBiffwith considerable understatement, "because I had the heart attack back in September 2019, so things went a bit pear-shaped for the band. And then Covid hit two or three months later, but luckily, we started writing and recording this album before Covid. We did the drums inGermanyand we did the guitars in various places. I was doing a lot of writing while I was in the hospital bed, and we spent quite a long time writing and arranging the ideas that we all had. I do think it's a very intense album,and maybe some of that intensity comes from the frustration of not being able to do anything in the Covid period."
Carpe DiemTrack Listing:
1.Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)
2.Age of Steam
3.The Pilgrimage
4.Dambusters
5.Remember the Fallen
6.Super Nova
7.Lady In Gray
8.All for One
9.Black is the Night
10.Living On the Limit
SAXON
BIFF BYFORD'Vocals
PAUL QUINN'Guitar
NIGEL GLOCKLER'Drums
DOUG SCARRATT'Guitar
NIBBS CARTER'Bass
Produced byAndy SneapandBiff Byford
Album mixed and mastered byAndy Sneap
Guitars recorded byAndy SneapatBackstage Recording Studios, Derbyshire (UK); Vocals recorded bySeb ByfordatBig Silver Barn, York (UK); Drums recorded byJacky Lehmann(Audiosound) atVelbyproductions,Grünenplan(Germany).
All lyricsbyBiff Byford. Backing vocalsbySeb Byford
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https://www.facebook.com/SaxonOfficial/
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https://www.youtube.com/PlanetSaxon
https://www.saxon747.com
