Thunderbolt (album) explained

Thunderbolt
Type:studio
Artist:Saxon
Cover:Album_cover_of_Saxon_-_Thunderbolt_(2018).jpg
Released:2 February 2018
Recorded:14 September 2016 – 20 September 2017
Genre:Heavy metal
Length:42:46
Label:Silver Lining Music
Producer:Andy Sneap
Prev Title:Let Me Feel Your Power
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Inspirations
Next Year:2021

Thunderbolt is the twenty-second studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 2 February 2018.[1]

Background

On 14 September 2016, the band revealed they had begun working on a new album through their Facebook account.[2] A month later, frontman Biff Byford revealed they had written a song dedicated to Motörhead called "They Played Rock n Roll", following the death of frontman Lemmy on 28 December 2015, which ended the band's 40-year history. The song is stylistically similar and referenced their touring companionship on the 1979/1980 "Bomber" tour.[3]

In an interview alongside Airbourne frontman Joel O'Keeffe at 2017's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, Byford confirmed that the album's title would be Thunderbolt and that the inspiration for it came from the gods of Greek mythology.[4]

Further details were revealed on various stops on their autumn tour of the US and Canada. In an interview at their Newton, New Jersey show on 22 September, he revealed that he'd finished recording his vocals on 20 September.[5] In an interview at their Montreal, Canada show on 4 October, Byford revealed that long-time producer Andy Sneap had finished mixing the album the previous day and mentioned a release date of 21 January 2018 (which later turned out to be incorrect).[6]

On 7 November 2017, the band confirmed the title and revealed the release date of 2 February 2018, track list, artwork and a short UK/European tour alongside Diamond Head, with Magnum and Rock Goddess supporting on select UK dates.[7]

On 30 November 2017, the new video "Thunderbolt" was released. The Record and especially the Motörhead Tribute Song on the Album, They Played Rock N Roll, is especially dedicated to former Motörhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke who died the previous month from Pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on 10 January 2018, just a month before Thunderbolt Albums release.[8] On 19 September 2018, the "Predator" video was released.[9]

Track listing

All music composed by Biff Byford, Doug Scarratt, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Nibbs Carter.

Credits

Additional Musicians
Production

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Italian Albums (FIMI)[10] 53
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[11] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saxon To Release 'Thunderbolt' Album In February; Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed. Blabbermouth.net. 7 November 2017. 8 November 2017. 17 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017224144/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-to-release-thunderbolt-album-in-february-cover-artwork-track-listing-revealed. live.
  2. Web site: Saxon (Official). Facebook.com. 7 November 2017.
  3. Web site: SAXON Singer Discusses MOTÖRHEAD Tribute Song 'They Played Rock And Roll' (Video). 16 October 2016. Blabbermouth.net. 7 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222237/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-singer-discusses-motorhead-tribute-song-they-played-rock-and-roll-video/. live.
  4. Web site: Airbourne Joel O'Keefe & Saxon Interview Metal Hammer Golden God Awards. Red Carpet News TV. 15 June 2017. 7 November 2017. YouTube. 21 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200521104645/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Xsy65XS0Q&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  5. Web site: Biff Byford of Saxon – People Respect Us Because We are Still Making Great Metal Albums! Myglobalmind Online Magazine. 27 September 2017. Myglobalmind.com. 7 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107221849/https://myglobalmind.com/2017/09/27/biff-byford-saxon-people-respect-us-still-making-great-metal-albums/. live.
  6. Web site: Saxon Biff Byford Interview-Talks New Album Thunderbolt, Lemmy & Rainbow. The Metal Voice. 6 October 2017. 7 November 2017. YouTube. 16 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200516012911/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJx_67lXps&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  7. Web site: SAXON ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND TOUR. Saxon747.com. 7 November 2017. 12 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171112020641/http://www.saxon747.com/en2/12-news/136-saxon-announce-new-album-and-tour. dead.
  8. Web site: Saxon – Thunderbolt (Official Video). PlanetSaxon. 30 November 2017. 30 November 2017. YouTube. 30 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171130140123/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhXjKigrW0&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  9. Web site: Saxon – Predator (Official Video). PlanetSaxon. 19 September 2018. 13 October 2018. YouTube. 22 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181122003351/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJjItMfB6g&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  10. Web site: Album – Classifica settimanale WK 6 (dal 2018-02-02 al 2018-02-08). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Italian. 10 February 2018. 2 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160902074806/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album/id:2630. live.
  11. Web site: Top 100 Albumes – Semana 6: del 2.2.2018 al 8.2.2018. Productores de Música de España. Spanish. 15 February 2018. PDF. 14 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202812/http://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/3635-%C3%81lbumes-semana-6-2018. live.
  12. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. 10 February 2018. 20 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170720033503/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/. live. Click on "Veckans albumlista".

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