Saxon with their special guests Wayward Sons and Doro, performing their Thunderbolt Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Saturday 10th November 2018.


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Heavy metal rockers Saxon came to the Royal Concert Hall last night to promote their latest album, Thunderbolt and with their long flowing locks managed to even make some women in the audience envious.

Starting the evening of very loud and very brash music were Wayward Sons, fronted by former Little Angels vocalist, Tony Jepson. Having released their debut album Ghosts Of Yet To Come, they burst on to the stage and opened with the groove heavy Alive which was followed by the incredibly infectious Ghost and their current single Don’t Wanna Go. With each song filled with catchy hooks and rocking riffs, they had nicely warmed up this audience.

Up next was Doro, the heavy metal goddess who fronted the band Warlock for many years. Hitting the stage running with opener Earthshaker Rock, she went on to smash through her hits like All We Are, I Rule The Ruins and the ultimate power ballad Fur Immer which was outstanding as she delivered a too short set of powerhouse vocals.

Barnsley metal legends Saxon needed no introduction and as Biff Byford came onto the stage to deliver their opening song, Thunderbolt, the audience were immediately on their feet where they stayed from the first note to the very last.

The new album was well represented with the likes of Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz) and The Secret Of Flight, all of which fitted in seamlessly with the band’s old classics Motorcycle Man, 747 (Strangers In the Night), Dallas 1pm with its blistering solo from guitarist Doug Scarratt before Crusader and Princess of The Night closed the main set.

With Byford’s pitch perfect voice and the bands fabulous musicianship, fans demanded an encore and they were not disappointed. They pumped their fists and banged their heads to classics like The Eagle Has Landed, Heavy Metal Thunder, Wheels Of Steel and the tumultuous closer of all closers, Denim And Leather which sent everyone on their way knowing that good heavy metal is still alive and still truly kicking.