Saxon live review: NWOBHM pioneers prove their legacy still endures
Half a century after their formation, Saxon continue to prove why they remain one of the defining names in British heavy metal. Formed in Barnsley in 1976, the band helped lay the foundations for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), standing alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Diamond Head as pioneers of the movement that reshaped heavy music in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Led throughout their career by charismatic frontman Peter “Biff” Byford, Saxon have built an enduring legacy through classic albums such as Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather, while continuing to release acclaimed new material well into the 2020s. Their latest album, Hell, Fire and Damnation, proved that the band remain far more than a nostalgia act. Instead, they continue to deliver powerful, riff-driven heavy metal that appeals both to lifelong fans and to younger generations discovering the roots of the genre.
Their influence stretches far beyond the NWOBHM scene. Saxon have toured extensively with many of metal’s biggest names, inspired countless bands across traditional heavy metal and power metal, and remain regular fixtures at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Sweden Rock Festival.
Saxon bring their battle-tested line-up to Liseberg
Saxon’s current line-up pairs Byford with guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler, the latter also renowned as the founding guitarist of fellow NWOBHM legends Diamond Head. Bassist Nibbs Carter and drummer Nigel Glockler complete a line-up that effortlessly blends decades of experience with remarkable energy.
It was this seasoned quintet that took to the stage at Liseberg in Gothenburg on 3 July. At least, I assume it was the full line-up. Nigel Glockler spent the evening hidden almost entirely behind one of the largest drum kits imaginable. Even while photographing from the pit, I never managed to catch more than the occasional glimpse of what appeared to be either a colourful bandana or perhaps a peakless cap emerging between the cymbals.
Mutual admiration between The Poodles and Saxon
Earlier in the evening, Swedish melodic hard rock favourites The Poodles had opened the show following their recent reunion after several years away. Unfortunately, I was unable to cover their performance as confirmation of our accreditation from Saxon’s crew did not arrive until late in the afternoon.
Biff Byford nevertheless made sure they received recognition during the concert, warmly thanking the support act and revealing that he was a huge fan. He even unzipped his elegant black coat just enough to reveal what he claimed was a The Poodles T-shirt underneath. The admiration appears to go both ways. Last summer I watched The Poodles drummer Christian “Kicken” Lundqvist perform with the Swedish tribute supergroup En jäkla massa rock while wearing a Saxon shirt, making this support slot seem like a fitting full-circle moment.
A nod to Sweden Rock and the home crowd
Byford also reminded the audience that Saxon had already performed at Sweden Rock Festival earlier in the summer. Early in the show he grinned and asked, “Is this better than Sweden Rock?” The crowd responded with a deafening roar, prompting him to challenge them to prove it throughout the rest of the evening.
The question was delivered with a smile, but it also highlighted the special relationship Saxon have built with Swedish metal fans over the decades. Sweden has long been one of the band’s strongest territories, with generations of fans continuing to embrace the classic NWOBHM sound. Judging by the response at Liseberg, that connection remains as strong as ever.
A sea of denim and leather
Before arriving, I genuinely wondered how many people Saxon would attract in 2026, exactly fifty years after the band was founded. While every heavy metal fan knows their importance, Saxon have often occupied a tier just below the household-name status enjoyed by Iron Maiden or Judas Priest. I suspected they might simply be too niche to fill Liseberg’s main stage.
I could not have been more wrong.
Around half an hour before showtime, the amusement park was already packed. I found myself weaving through seemingly endless streams of beer-carrying metalheads, most of them middle-aged men proudly displaying decades’ worth of band shirts and denim vests. By the time the intro tape, The Prophecy, gave way to the opening notes of “Hell, Fire and Damnation”, the crowd stretched as far back as the eye could see.
Embracing every heavy metal cliché
Musically, Saxon embraced every classic heavy metal cliché imaginable and did so with complete confidence. Song titles such as “Heavy Metal Thunder”, “Denim and Leather” and “Hell, Fire and Damnation” leave little room for subtlety. The stage production followed suit, featuring imposing stone lion statues, an enormous wall of Marshall amplifiers and giant screens cycling through the band’s iconic album artwork alongside thematic visuals. During “Crusader”, for example, medieval armies marched across the screens beneath waving banners. Even Spinal Tap would probably have struggled to make the show feel any more archetypically heavy metal.
Yet this is precisely why it worked.
Saxon are not borrowing from heavy metal traditions. They helped create them. What might feel hopelessly derivative coming from a younger band instead becomes an authentic celebration of the genre when performed by one of its founding fathers.
Biff Byford’s voice stands the test of time
Comparisons with Iron Maiden are inevitable, and Saxon probably do not command quite the same production budget as their fellow NWOBHM giants. However, any difference in spectacle was more than compensated for by sheer conviction and stage presence. Peter “Biff” Byford remains a remarkably capable vocalist whose voice has aged far more gracefully than many of his contemporaries.
Equally impressive was bassist Nibbs Carter, who spent much of the evening windmilling his long hair, headbanging relentlessly and injecting boundless energy into every corner of the stage.
The audience reflected the band’s particular place within the heavy metal world. Unlike arena-filling acts such as Metallica or Rammstein, whose audiences increasingly include casual listeners, Saxon continue to attract devoted followers. Throughout the evening it was impossible not to notice fans greeting old friends, embracing each other and enthusiastically declaring just how brilliant the band still are. It felt less like a concert and more like a reunion of a close-knit community brought together by a shared love of classic heavy metal.
A setlist built for the faithful
The setlist struck an excellent balance between new material and timeless favourites. Opening with the title track from Hell, Fire and Damnation immediately demonstrated that Saxon remain creatively relevant, while classics including “Power and the Glory”, “Strong Arm of the Law”, “747 (Strangers in the Night)”, “Wheels of Steel” and the triumphant closing pairing of “Crusader” and “Princess of the Night” ensured that fans left with exactly what they had hoped for.
A particularly enjoyable touch came when Byford asked the crowd to choose between “Never Surrender” and “Broken Heroes”. After listening to the cheers for both songs, he paused for a moment before concluding, “I think it’s ‘Broken Heroes’.”
Fifty years after their formation, Saxon remain a compelling reminder of why traditional heavy metal continues to endure. They may no longer be the biggest name in the genre, but they have lost none of the authenticity, passion or musical fire that first earned them their place among Britain’s heavy metal elite. Judging by the thousands who packed Liseberg on this warm July evening, there is still plenty of life left in the old lions.
Setlist
Intro music: The Prophecy
- Hell, Fire and Damnation
- Power and the Glory
- Dogs of War
- And the Bands Played On
- Madame Guillotine
- Sacrifice
- Solid Ball of Rock
- Broken Heroes (Crowd got to choose between Never Surrender and Broken Heroes)
- Heavy Metal Thunder
- Dallas 1 PM
- Strong Arm of the Law
- Motorcycle Man
- Denim and Leather
- 747 (Strangers in the Night)
- Wheels of Steel
Encore
- Crusader
- Princess of the Night
Outro music: Kingdom of the Cross
This show was shot with
Camera bodies
- Sony a7 IIIClose-ups, long-range shots
- Sony a7R IIWide-angle shots
Camera lenses
- Samyang 35-150mm f2–2.8Close-ups, long-range shots
- Tamron 16-30mm f2.8Wide-angle shots
Concert photo gallery
