Sacrifice
Cover art by Paul R. Gregory
Studio album by
Saxon
Released1 March 2013
RecordedLS Studios, Yorkshire, England[1]
GenreHeavy metal
Length39:28
LabelUDR
ProducerBiff Byford, Andy Sneap
Saxon chronology
Call to Arms
(2011)		 Sacrifice
(2013)		 Battering Ram
(2015)

Sacrifice is the twentieth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon. It was released on 1 March 2013 in Europe, 4 March in the United Kingdom and 26 March in the United States.[2]

Background and production

In late January 2012, drummer Nigel Glockler revealed on Facebook that the band was getting ready to write a followup to the previous year's Call to Arms.[3] About a month later Glockler revealed, again via Facebook, that he and guitarist Doug Scarratt were convening in Glockler's home studio to write before a band meeting in March.[4]

On 30 March 2012, vocalist Biff Byford issued an update stating that the band have a few ideas, and that he had started writing and arranging melodies.[5] Additionally, in July 2012, two short videos were released via YouTube that show band members jamming in the studio.[6][7][8][9]

In mid-August, the band released an update regarding the album. It was revealed that only a few vocals and other small things had yet to be completed. It was also announced that the album would most likely be produced by Andy Sneap.[10] By the end of August, it was announced that the recording had been completed, and Andy Sneap was getting ready to mix the record.[11] By October, the mixing process had been completed.[12]

On 30 October 2012, the band had announced, via their official website, the UK leg of the Sacrifice World Tour which would support the new album, whose title was revealed to be Sacrifice.[13]

The track listing and album artwork was announced on 15 November 2012.[1]

Release and promotion

The album was originally due to be released in several formats starting on 22 February, but due to production issues, the date was pushed back one week to 1 March.[2] The album was released as a CD, deluxe edition, which included a bonus CD of re-recorded versions of older Saxon songs, and a picture disc. In addition, the iTunes release featured an exclusive bonus track, Luck of the Draw.[1]

A world tour followed the album's release. The tour started in the US, and involved an appearance on the Monsters of Rock cruise, followed by South American dates. A UK tour followed in April,[1] and European dates followed, including a headlining appearance at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany[10] and an appearance at France's Hellfest.[14]

To help with promotion for the album, a music video for the album's title track was released on 25 February 2013.[15]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net[16]
BW&BK[17]
Jukebox:Metal[18]
Record Collector[19]

Mark Gromen, reviewing Sacrifice for Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles contrasted the album with its predecessor by calling the effort more metal than 2011's Call to Arms. Gromen noted that the band had increased the intensity of their songwriting and that the guitars were heavier and faster. He gave the album an 8/10 rating.[17]

Sacrifice was also positively reviewed by Blabbermouth.net, who granted a score of 8/10.[16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Procession"Saxon1:45
2."Sacrifice"Saxon/Biff Byford3:58
3."Made in Belfast"Saxon/Biff Byford4:34
4."Warriors of the Road"Saxon/Biff Byford3:34
5."Guardians of the Tomb"Saxon/Biff Byford4:47
6."Stand up and Fight"Saxon/Biff Byford4:02
7."Walking the Steel"Saxon/Biff Byford4:24
8."Night of the Wolf"Saxon/Biff Byford4:20
9."Wheels of Terror"Saxon/Biff Byford4:23
10."Standing in a Queue"Saxon/Biff Byford3:36
Total length:39:28
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Luck of the Draw"3:20
Bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Crusader" (Orchestrated version; original version released on Crusader)Saxon6:42
2."Just Let Me Rock" (Re-recorded version; original version released on Crusader)Saxon3:40
3."Requiem" (Acoustic version; original version released on Solid Ball of Rock)Byford, Oliver, Carter, Glockler3:31
4."Frozen Rainbow" (Acoustic version; original version released on Saxon)Byford, Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson, Pete Gill4:05
5."Forever Free" (Re-recorded version; original version released on Forever Free)Byford, Oliver, Quinn4:48

Personnel

Saxon
  • Biff Byford – lead vocals
  • Paul Quinn – guitar
  • Doug Scarratt – guitar
  • Nibbs Carter – bass guitar
  • Nigel Glockler – drums
Production

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] 54
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22] 117
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 70
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 31
French Albums (SNEP)[25] 82
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 14
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 83
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 51
UK Albums (OCC)[30] 87
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[31] 4

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Saxon prepare to deliver their latest album Sacrifice, in February 2013". Saxon747.com (official band website). Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Saxon's New Album Pushed Back To March – Feb. 12, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Saxon Preparing To Write Next Album – Jan. 25, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Saxon Continuing Work On New Material – Feb. 20, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Saxon To Release New Studio Album Early Next Year – Mar. 30, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Saxon: New Video Clip From The Studio – July 4, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Saxon: New Video Clip From The Studio – July 3, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Saxon Podcast – In the Studio". Retrieved 15 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "Saxon Podcast – In the Studio II". Retrieved 15 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  10. 1 2 3 "Saxon Talk Upcoming Tour Plans in New Update". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Saxon Completes Recording New Album – Aug. 28, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Saxon Completes Mixing New Album – Oct. 16, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Announce 'Sacrifice Tour' in Spring". Saxon747.com (Official band website). Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "Second Announcement". Hellfest Official Website. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Saxon: 'Sacrifice' Video Released – Feb. 25, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  16. 1 2 "CD Reviews – SAXON: Sacrifice (EMI Music Distribution/UDR)". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Saxon – Sacrifice Track-By-Track Review Available". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Andy Lye. "Jukebox:Metal Review".
  19. ↑ Pinfold, William (March 2013). "Saxon – Sacrifice". Record Collector (413). Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Saxon Begins Mixing New Album With Andy Sneap – Sep. 24, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  21. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Saxon – Sacrifice" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved access-date=31 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Saxon – Thunderbolt" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Saxon – Thunderbolt" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Saxon: Sacrifice" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved access-date=31 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Saxon – Sacrifice". Hung Medien. Retrieved access-date=31 July 2021.
  26. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Saxon – Sacrifice" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  28. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Saxon – Sacrifice". Hung Medien. Retrieved access-date=31 July 2021.
  29. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Saxon – Sacrifice". Hung Medien. Retrieved access-date=31 July 2021.
  30. ↑ "Saxon | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  31. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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