Saxon / FM / Wayward Sons – London Roundhouse 19 October 2018

Saxon / FM / Wayward Sons

London Roundhouse

19 October 2018

Classic rock legends Saxon finally hit London in support of their latest opus Thunderbolt, their 22nd studio album, issued earlier this year (and, more recently, the tour edition). The Barnsley quintet have come a long way since their NWoBHM roots and Thunderbolt, probably their heaviest album, has proven one of their most successful too. 

Formed in the late 70s as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, there’s been some changes along the way, but the current line-up of founders vocalist Biff Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn alongside guitarist Doug Scarratt, bassist Nibbs Carter and drummer Nigel Glockler has been consistent for many years now. And since the turn of the millennium they’ve combined rock’n’roll, prog metal, power metal, NWoBHM roots and even the occasional nod to symphonic and blues rock. Never letting up, Saxon still attract fans new and old. 

I’d never been to the Roundhouse before, and it’s not a venue I immediately warmed to. A lot of fans did though, the show was sold out and the Roundhouse was uncomfortably full. 

Young band Wayward Sons hit the stage prompt at 7pm, coming on to a country track, before crash bang wallop. The second track was a bit more bouncy, and at times there were some Zeppelin-esque moments. They put on good show, albeit with plenty of cliched posturing, but very entertaining and no doubt will go a long way. 

Next band were the legends FM, who replaced the scheduled Y&T at short notice. The more AOR sound was solid, polished and went down a storm; FM have been legends since the mid 80s and their members all have serious pedigree (Merv Goldsworthy and Pete Jupp are both ex Samson). Plenty of keyboards and parp, and some damn fine guitar solos. Killed By Love was a standout track, as was That Girl, a track covered by Iron Maiden for a single b-side.

AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top blasted out as the lights went down for Saxon, and the backing tape of Olympus Rising saw the band take the stage to a huge roar. The new album’s title track kicked off at a dangerous pace. Showing confidence in their new material, and rightly show, it was the first of six tracks from the new album. That’s a lot, certainly compared to most other rock bands, even to the detriment of a consistent and strong catalogue. Each one, thought, sat perfectly with tracks from across the years, the audience loving every moment. One firm fan favourite was They Played Rock’n’Roll, a tribute to Lemmy and Motorhead (with who Saxon have toured often over the years).

Guitarists Quinn and Scarratt riffed away, and there were plenty of decent guitar solos. Two other post 2000 tracks Battering Ram and Sacrifice both went down a storm. 

There was a good mix of old and new, but sadly not a lot in between, with Innocence Is No Excuse (a personal fave) and much from the 90s and early 00s overlooked. That said, tracks like Never Surrender, And The Bands Played On and Strong Arm Of The Law are just perfect classic British heavy metal that are a pleasure.

Biff Byford’s a great frontman, not only a singer – but prowls the stage, owns the audience and provides much banter. “So you like the old ones then?” he asks, before introducing Sacrifice as, at only two and a half years vintage, another oldie. His humour hasn’t changed, and nor has the tradition of George Cross flags being thrown on to the stage.

While Saxon are better than most for their varied setlist as much their strength of catalogue (I’ve turned down free tickets to Motorhead and Lynyrd Skynyrd for setlist reasons alone), they will never please everyone and there is so much wonderful material not played. Sadly Wheels Of Steel has become overplayed and, much like Nazareth’s Love Hurts, it really wouldn’t hurt to drop it in favour of something different.

A wonderful evening of wonderful music, pushed to the limit with the final song cut short because of the curfew. The only disappointment (and this is minor, and I know I’m nitpicking) was that Solid Ball Of Rock, my favourite Saxon track, was introduced as from the wrong year, and the only song to sound a little tired or flat. Normally this rock’n’roll classic is delivered (and received) in much more uplifting fashion. 

The whole band were on fire, largely as consistent as ever. Saxon continue to rock the world and for every year they age, like a vintage wine, show others how it’s done. 8/10

Joe Geesin

Saxon set-list

Olympus Rising (intro)

Thunderbolt

Sacrifice

Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz)

Motorcycle Man

Predator

Strong Arm of the Law

Battering Ram

Power and the Glory

Solid Ball of Rock

The Secret of Flight

Dallas 1 PM

They Played Rock and Roll

And the Bands Played On

Never Surrender

747 (Strangers in the Night)

Sons of Odin

Crusader

Princess of the Night

Encore:

The Eagle Has Landed

Heavy Metal Thunder

Wheels of Steel

20,000 Ft

Denim and Leather