British heavy metal stalwarts Saxon are officially back in the studio. Less than two years after the release of their acclaimed album Hell, Fire And Damnation, the band has commenced work on its successor, sharing the first visual evidence of the sessions with fans this week.
Over the last few days, the band’s social media channels have been active with a series of candid photos confirming that tracking is well underway. The images feature drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim “Nibbs” Carter, and guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler laying down their respective parts. Tatler, the Diamond Head founder who has been touring with the band, appears fully integrated into the recording process for this new chapter.
According to previous updates from frontman Biff Byford, the as-yet-untitled LP is tentatively scheduled for release in the autumn of 2026.
The timeline aligns with comments Byford made earlier this year. Speaking to Riff X‘s “Metal XS” in July, the vocalist revealed that the creative wheels were already turning.
“Well, we’ve started writing the next album. I’m doing lyrics now,” Byford explained at the time. “And I’ve got a lot of ideas from [Doug Scarratt], Nigel [Glockler] as well, and from Nibbs. So, yeah, I’ve got quite a lot of ideas, which I’m compiling at home in my studio. So I think we’re maybe looking — fingers crossed — we’re looking at a new album in autumn next year, September/October.”
The start of recording marks a significant and triumphant return to work for Byford, who has spent much of 2025 battling serious health issues. Just over two months ago, the singer shared a video update confirming he had completed his final round of chemotherapy for bowel cancer.
The diagnosis led to the cancellation of several summer shows and festival appearances while Byford underwent surgery and subsequent treatment. This recent health scare followed a procedure in August 2024 to treat a heart rhythm abnormality and an emergency triple bypass surgery in 2019. Despite these challenges, the 74-year-old frontman remains relentless, adhering to the schedule he outlined back in April when he told Uruguay’s The Dark Melody that the band aimed to start recording in November after their touring commitments concluded.
“We’ll probably go in and record the drums and bass and the basic guitars and some guide vocals then,” Byford had predicted. “So, yeah, we’re pretty much on it. We’re working towards the new album. It’s going well.”
The upcoming record will be Saxon‘s 25th studio release, following 2024’s Hell, Fire And Damnation, which was produced by Andy Sneap and Byford.
