The UK Metal band, Saxon, released their first album in 1979, following the eponymous debut with two best-sellers, Wheels Of Steel (1980), and Strong Arm Of The Law (1980). From there, the band has steadily released a string of excellent albums to this day, finding room to vet their creative energies, album to album. By the time the US “discovered” the band, they were already on their fifth album, Power & The Glory (1983). That album endeared them to US fans, who elevated them to lofty positions that continued with the band’s next three (Crusader – 1984, Innocence Is No Excuse – 1985, Rock The Nations – 1986) before the fans let their own fickle changing tastes veer them away to other pursuits.
Saxon remain in top draw to other locations in the world including Japan, Germany, Sweden, and their own UK home. In 2003, Saxon released a Chronicles set that explored the band’s long career while providing videos, interviews, and a 2001 performance at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany.
On October 24, UDR Records will release the next set, Warriors Of The Road – The Saxon Chronicles Part II. This new package will contain video of their 2013 set at UK’s Steelhouse Festival, continuing with full concert sets of their 2012 appearances at the Download festival, the Wacken Open Air Festival, and a 2013 appearance at the Graspop Festival. But in addition to all that video, this set will add in an audio playback on CD of their 2013 Steelhouse Festival show.
Warriors Of The Road will be released in four variations that include 2DVD/CD (housed in a digipak set, and including a 56-page hardcover media book. The set is also planned to issue in a reverse packaging with emphasis on the CD, and including the two DVDs, but will only include a truncated 26-page booklet. In addition, there will be a 2BD/CD softbox that will offer only the 26-page booklet (I suppose they want you to get the 2DVD/CD configuration to attain the 56-page hard-bound book). And for those that like downloads, the set will be available as a digital set.
Strangely, the specs on the Blu-ray set place the video output at 16:9, 1080i, with audio at Stereo, 2.0 Dolby, and 5.1 Dolby. The DVD will provide video output at NSTC Widescreen (720 x 480), with audio at Stereo, 2.0 dolby, and 5.1 Dolby.
Tracklist – Steelhouse Festival 2013:
01. Sacrifice
02. Wheels Of Terror
03. And The Bands Played On
04. Conquistador
05. Stand Up And Fight
06. 747
07. Crusader
08. Denim & Leather
09. Princess Of The Night
Tracklist – Download Festival 2012:
01. Heavy Metal Thunder
02. Hammer of the Gods
03. Power and the Glory
04. 20,000 Ft
05. Strong Arm of the Law
06. Denim and Leather
07. Wheels of Steel
08. Princess of the Night
0And the Bands Played On
Tracklist – Wacken Open Air 2012:
01. Heavy Metal Thunder
02. Hammer of the Gods
03. Power and the Glory
04. 20,000 Ft
05. Never Surrender
06. Dogs of War
07. Motorcycle Man
08. I’ve Got to Rock (To Stay
Alive)
09. Crusader
10. Rock the Nations
11. Drum Solo
12. Battalions of Steel
13. The Eagle Has Landed
14. Wheels of Steel
15. To Hell and Back Again
16. Denim and Leather
Encore:
17. Strong Arm of the Law
18. 747 (Strangers in the
Night)
19. Princess of the Night
Tracklist Graspop Festival 2013:
01. Sacrifice
02. Wheels of Terror
03. Power and the Glory
04. Heavy Metal Thunder
05. Made in Belfast
06. Denim and Leather
07. Motorcycle Man
08. I’ve Got to Rock (To Stay Alive)
09. Stand Up and Fight
10. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
11. Strong Arm of the Law
12. Wheels of Steel
13. Crusader
14. Princess of the Night
Man, I love these guys. Been a fan since Strong Arm Of The Law. Got into them when Maiden and Def Leppard were just start out with the NWOBHM bands. I have most of their albums but, I have to admit, it’s been decades since they’ve put an album out that really resonated with me. With that said, they are still better than most of the crap being put out today.
Many concert BDs are 1080i, which I believe depends on the equipment used to record the video.