Saxon

St George’s Day Sacrifice – Live in Manchester

UDR, 2014

Saxon is one of those bands who have worked tirelessly since the late 1970’s , and while they’ve earned a living in Europe and the rest of the world, have managed to remain relatively unknown in the US. For reasons best understood by the fickle Gods of fame and fate, their chest thumping anthems, “Denim & Leather,” and “Power and the Glory,” never managed to make a significant foothold with American audiences.

Here they mix up new and classic material before an appreciative crowd in Manchester. “Made in Belfast,” and “Sacrifice” are as warmly received as the older tunes. They band churns through twenty-one songs. With crisp production, there’s a powerful, you are there feeling to the recording. There’s relaxed banter between singer Biff Byford and the crowd.

I doubt this release will do anything to sway many new converts to the ways of Saxon, but it only serves to solidify their place as one of the hardest working, reliably consistent, hard rock acts in existence and one that shows no signs of slowing down. Or easing up.