Saxon / The Octagon Centre / Sheffield

Review also featured on RockPoser News

Legendary heavy metal icons Saxon are on the road again, on their “Hell, Fire and Damnation” tour, and this one is special, as they play through their classic album “Wheels of Steel” in full for the final time. This had all the markings of a show not to miss !

Heading into the Octagon Centre in Sheffield early, I was looking forward to seeing tonight’s support acts.

Up first are Untamed Silence. Formed in 2019 they deliver a unique blend of Heavy Rock with elements of Prog Rock and Metal (with some dark ambient synth/samples through in too) creating a unique and defining sound, which is dominated by some gorgeous melodic female vocals, thunderous guitar riffs and pounding drum beats.

They start the set with latest single Long Time Dead which sets the scene nicely, and they fill the octagon space with waves of bright and powerful heavy rock. Perhaps the highlight was a great version of the track You Are My Requiem, packed with power an emotion.

Untamed Silence held their own again their illustrious stage partners tonight. A thoroughly enjoyable start to the night.

Setlist

Long Time Dead

The Power

You Are My Requiem

Nowhere

Hardship

Deadspeak

Next up on the Sheffield stage is a long time friend of Saxon and a legend in the heacy rock scene himself, Udo Dirkschneider perhaps best known as the singer heavy metal band Accept. Udo left Accept in 1987 and went on to form U.D.O.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since the release of Accept’s classic album “Balls To The Wall” and tonight we got to experience the whole album from start to finish, blasting off with the monumental opening track Balls to the Wall. As it roars to life, a wave of huge black inflatable balloons bounce out into the crowd to the crowds pleasure.

Despite now turning 73, Udo leads the proceedings from the centre of the stage, with vigour. Often appearing to almost conduct the audience with his arm movements, as they shout and cheer and jump around to every riff and beat. Udo carries a perpetual grin on his face from first note to last. The stage is clearly his home.

Udo’s vocals are still incredibly impressive, high and with great sustain be belts out line after line. Highlights included Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had a powerful battle anthem in the old school vain, and then Love Child.

Udo’s band are terrific, moving around, entertaining the fans and pulling poses for the photographers at the front.Dirkschneider has a real energy and vibe that is hard to match. Alongside all the classics, we also got a couple of deep cuts from their archive, in particular Guardian Of The Night a track not performed live since the 80’s and a real pleasure to hear it live again after so so long.

The set ends with Winter Nights and Fast As A Shark.A great set, performed perfectly, and a reminder of just how incredible the “Balls to the Wall” album is.

Setlist

Balls to the Wall

London Leatherboys

Fight It Back

Head Over Heels

Losing More Than You've Ever Had

Love Child

Turn Me On

Losers and Winners

Guardian of the Night

Winterdreams

Fast as a Shark

Finally, it’s time for Saxon to hit the stage. Formed (incredibly) back in 1975 nearby in Barnsley, they are Biff Byford (vocals) Nibbs Carter (bass) Brian Tatler & Doug Scarratt (guitar) Nigel Glockler (drums). Saxon went on to have eight UK Top 40 albums during the 1980s including four Top 10’ and two Top 5’s. Saxon were a powerhouse of 80’s heavy rock, up there with Priest & Maiden and they have recorded and toured every since, to packed houses around the world.

Since 1979’s debut self titled “Saxon” they have recorded 24 studio albums with the latest release “Hell, Fire and Damnation” released only last year. Tonight, Saxon are playing through their classic 1980 album “Wheels of Steel” in full.

The Octagon Centre is packed, and they are here for one thing, and one thing only, their hometown heroes Saxon. Whereas many bands that play an album through in it’s entirety just play that album, Saxon’s setlist is huge, with a selection of their all time classics as well as the whole “Wheels of Steel” album.

They open the set with something new in Hell, Fire and Damnation from the latest album, which flicks the switch and sets the crowd on fire, a state they rarely dip out of for the rest of the night, which is followed by a throwback to 1983 and the classic Power and the Glory, that sees the fists pumping in unison.

Heavy Metal Thunder is followed by Dallas 1pm from 1980’s album “Strong Arm of the Law” a real favourite with the Sheffield faithful.

Then we enter the realm of “Wheels of Steel” as the unmistakable tones of Motorcycle Man ring out around the hall.

Saxon, sound tonight as tight and solid as they always do, Biff Byford commands his stage with power and grace and his vocals ring around the walls. Brian Tatler and Doug Scarratt on guitar are on point, trading riffs and posing together, often joined by Nibbs Carter on bass, the three of them, guitar necks nodding in unison to the deight of the crowd. And we can’t forget Nigel on drums, who is flawless throughout, delivering some thunderous beats to hold everything together.

As you would expect, as soon Doug Scarratt plays the opening riffs of Wheels of Steel, the Steel City goers crazy and the whole house is punching the air with their fists and singing along to the classic hit. The same happens a little later with Suzie Hold On that has everyone singing along. The noise levels are off the chart. The main set closes with Machine Gun and as the band leave the stage the chants of ‘Saxon’ start to ring out loud.

The chants grew in intensity and erupted into screams and cheers as Saxon returned to the stage. The guys had a three song encore for us, all three tracks from from 1981’s classic “Demin and Leather”………….. along with a little surprise. For the title track Demin and Leather and for And the Bands Played On Saxon were joined on stage by former guitarist Paul Quinn. Paul left in 2023 when Brian joined the touring band, and he received a huge cheer as he joined the guys on stage. A magical moment not lost of the Sheffield crowd who revelled in the reunion.

Finally, the night came to an end with Princess of the Night. The party was in full swing, and nobody wanted to go home.

Saxon may have been around for 50 years now, but their light is not dimmed in any way. Still a heavy rock behemoth in every sense, delivering power, passion and entertainment night after night…… And long may it continue !

Setlist

Hell, Fire and Damnation

Power and the Glory

Sacrifice

Backs to the Wall

Never Surrender

Madame Guillotine

Heavy Metal Thunder

Dallas 1 PM

Motorcycle Man

Stand Up and Be Counted

747 (Strangers in the Night)