Band:	Saxon
Album:	Hell, Fire And Damnation
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	January 2024

01. The Prophecy
02. Hell, Fire And Damnation
03. Madame Guillotine
04. Fire And Steel
05. There's Something In Roswell
06. Kubla Khan And The Merchant Of Venice
07. Pirates Of The Airwaves
08. 1066
09. Witches Of Salem
10. Super Charger

They truly age like fine wine.

As a NWOBHM band of legendary status, Saxon really have no need for introduction. In their massive 48-year existence they've managed to pull off an astoundingly consistent discography; from the early 80s impressive heavy hitters Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law, and Denim And Leather, right through to 2022's Carpe Diem, they've never really seemed to drop in any significant quality. Now comes the band's 24th full-length offering Hell, Fire and Damnation.

Where does this latest heavy metal instalment from the mighty Saxons take us? To start with, a new edition joins the ranks in the form of the legendary Brian Tatler (Diamond Head) following the departure of founding guitarist Paul Quinn (who left the band in 2022), and it's fair to say his lead guitar work certainly brings a new level of freshness and dynamics to the party. The album also has a tightly compact 42-minute runtime, featuring a total of ten tracks that mostly run at a similar length. The album begins with a short synth-based intro titled "The Prophecy", featuring the narration of iconic British actor Brian Blessed, before unleashing its main opening track "Hell, Fire And Damnation". This title track begins in no unusual manner, with a standard traditional heavy metal riff, powerful drum beats, and noticeable heavy bass, which is then followed by a reasonably impressive guitar solo; all this is guided by Bill Byford's excellent distinctive vocal style.

The album continues in typical Saxon fashion, which, as experienced fans will have come to expect by now, is quality heavy metal material the traditional form. You may find nothing out of the ordinary in terms of songwriting; it mostly consists of reasonable quality traditional heavy riffs, some of which may sound familiar or just standard. The solos, on the other hand, are very impressive to say the least (courtesy of Tatler of course). However, it's Bill Byford who simply steals the show, yet again delivering another terrific vocal performance; how he can pull off such a remarkable performance after recently turning 73 is simply beyond words.

The band's fascination with lyrical themes centred around historical events also remains, covering topics such as Marie Antoinette, Kublai Khan, and The Battle Of Hastings. This is again nothing out of the ordinary, not only for Saxon but for heavy metal in general, but then most of us metalheads tend to have a soft spot for all things historical (especially if it's to do with anything grim, sadistic or barbaric), don't we? So, performance wise, Hell, Fire and Damnation is pretty much faultless, as you'd expect. The production also does its job in allowing everything to come together nicely, but not only that, the overall tone seems much meatier than previous efforts; the riffs and drums sound heavier, and it seems the bass has a much more significant presence.

So, this could well be one of the heaviest and best sounding releases under Saxon's belt, if not the best outright; however, how does the songwriting fair? Well, it does just enough to keep the listener engaged; it might not be the most inventive or exciting the band has ever created, but one thing going for it is that it's consistent. Each track has its shining moments, with "Madame Guillotine", "Kubla Khan And The Merchant Of Venice", "Pirates Of The Airwaves", and "1066" in particular having plenty going for them, whether it's an impressive solo, riff, or chorus. The downside, however, is the lack of real standout quality songs that the album will be remembered for in time to come, such as Carpe Diem's "The Pilgrimage", for example.

Saxon are a true inspiration to heavy metal bands and fans from across the globe, not only for their outstanding contribution towards the NWOBHM scene that helped popularize the whole heavy metal genre, but for having the ability to churn out top-quality releases year-in-year-out for decades. Hell, Fire And Damnation is proof yet again that this band have no intentions of stepping down, and are likely to carry on doing what they do, and with releases as good as this, why not?