Saxon regained their footing with 2004‘s Lionheart album, since then the band has been hell bent on reconquering the world. While it’s been easier to do so across Europe the United States in another story. Here they are still demoted to club band at best part of the reason was how the band had been marketed in North America. Other reasons could be– well who can forget the sight of singer Biff Byford trying to look like he was a member of a L.A. glam rock band? You remember Biff in the video clip for their cover of Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind” on 1988’s Destiny album—yuck! Byford made Ozzy Osbourne circa 1986 look downright gorgeous! The album was horrendous and spelled career suicide for Saxon here in America.

In their quest to recapture their fan base worldwide and claim some new recruits Saxon have become a regular participant at Germany’s prestigious Wacken Open Air Festival. To say that Saxon have become to some extent ‘ambassadors’ of Wacken Open Air wouldn’t be a stretch by any means. In 2003 Saxon issued The Saxon Chronicles DVD which captured the band’s complete set at 2001’s Wacken Open Air. Saxon’s new DVD is entitled Heavy Metal Thunder-Live, Eagles over Wacken which is a compilation of Saxon’s best performances from the Wacken Festival from 2004, 2007, and 2009. Saxon’s members are definitely getting up there in age and it’s starting to show. However with a vast catalog they have a lot from which to choose from and they have chosen wisely; selecting the best of the best from the history of the band. The audiences are still very enthusiastic about the New Wave of British Heavy Metal icons and Biff Byford and company clearly feed off the crowd’s energy.

The only shortcoming found on Heavy Metal Thunder-Live, Eagles over Wacken is the fact that it’s not a complete gig and it’s been pieced together from three different performances. That however, is a minor gripe as it was edited very well and the performances are made to be as seamless as possible. With a extensive list of tracks that totals at 30 plus and includes behind the scenes footage; I dare you to complain. It’s a fantastic set. As if things couldn’t get any better the deluxe digi-pak edition features two audio discs; it captures Saxon recorded live in Glasgow on their triumphant ‘Call to Arms Tour’ in 2011, between the two audio discs there’s a total of 24 additional tracks with hits such as “Denim and Leather,” “Wheels of Steel,” “Crusader,” “747 (Strangers in the Night),” and “Strong Arm of the Law” among cuts from recent albums this makes this collection essential. Whether you own Saxon’s The Eagle has Landed series, the The Saxon Chronicles or any of their previously issued live recordings; Heavy Metal Thunder-Live, Eagles over Wacken will be a welcome addition to your existing Saxon collection or a strong representation of what Saxon is all about for someone just discovering the band.

Saxon
Heavy Metal Thunder – Live Eagles Over Wacken DVD/CD
EMI 2012