Saxon: UK, Ireland Dates Announced

British heavy metal legends Saxon will continue their Battalions Of Steel World Tour in the UK and Ireland in April. Confirmed dates are as follows:

04/23 - London, UK - Forum
04/25 - Prestatyn, UK - Hammerfest
04/26 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy
04/27 - Belfast, Ireland - Mandela Hall
04/28 - Glasgow, UK - ABC
04/30 - Sheffield, UK - Academy
05/01 - Newcastle, UK - Academy
05/03 - Manchester, UK - Academy
05/04 - Bristol, UK - Academy
05/05 - Wolverhampton, UK - Wulfrun Hall

In other news, the second fan question-and-answer session is online where Doug Scarratt (guitar), Paul Quinn (guitar) and Biff Byford (vocals) tackle a few questions submitted by Saxon fans. Watch the two-minute clip here.

The Saxon / Iced Earth tour will kick off on February 1, 2009 in Paris, France. Saxon will close all the shows on the trek, which will wrap on March 1 in Barcelona, Spain.

Saxon's new studio album, "Into The Labyrinth", will be released on January 12, 2009 (Germany: January 9; USA: January 13). The CD was recorded at the Twilight Hall in Krefeld, Germany, under the direction of Charlie Bauerfeind. Saxon laid down 13 new songs at Blind Guardian's studio, starting with monumental opener "Battalions Of Steel" through "Demon Sweeney Todd" and "Valley Of The Kings", which both cover historic events, to the final slide guitar blues track "Coming Home" (fans are already familiar with the electric version of this track from Saxon's "Killing Ground" album).

"The new material was written in England and at my house in France," Byford explained. "Stylistically, I would describe the album as an even balance between 'Lionheart' and 'The Inner Sanctum', a mix of powerful, in-your-face rock songs and pure heavy metal tracks. We're very happy with the production and proud of 'Into The Labyrinth'."

Thanks for the report to Blabbermouth.net.