Review SAXON “Eagles Over Hellfest”

The mighty Saxon performed at Hellfest 2024, and their set was recorded. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM) veterans presented a great summary of their impressive back catalog with 14 songs.

The UK’s pioneering heavy metal band has released several live albums throughout their career, and “Eagles Over Hellfest” is one of them which includes songs from their latest studio album, “Hell, Fire and Damnation,” performed live.

Saxon opened with the title track of their latest studio album, followed by one of their early classics, “Motorcycle Man.” The roaring sound of an engine kicks off the blazing-fast track, and the band played two more songs from the legendary “Wheels of Steel” album at Hellfest last year. The title track and “747 (Strangers in the Night)” are setlist essentials that fans greatly appreciate (see the live report from Saxon’s show in Hamburg a few weeks ago for more on this).

Along with “Madame Guillotine,” another new song, the band focused on classic albums from the ’80s. Next to “Wheels of Steel,” albums such as “Denim and Leather,” “Strong Arms of the Law,” and “Power & the Glory” contributed almost equally to the show.

Saxon is a role model band when it comes to music, passion, and dedication. These guys embody the essence of heavy metal, which resonates on each of their records, live shows, and live albums. Horns up!