Saxon – Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie
UDR
www.udr-music.com

Rating: B+

Saxon is one band from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that had massive success around the world, yet never was able to hit the big time in the USA.  They tried, as seen in the new documentary Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie.

The movie is an incredible look behind the metal curtain as the members of Saxon are interviewed and don’t hold back with their answers.  The stories they tell, from the incarnation of the band, to the glory days of success, to the failed attempt to become American-ized to the revitalization of the group in the present day, are all told with gut level honesty.  No punches are pulled, yet no one throws anyone under the bus either.  Heavy Metal Thunder is a true gem for fans who wants to know how the band formed, how it changed with success, how it survived the downturn in public acceptance and what it is like today. 

"Our music was more sort of machinery banging together, wheels turning, machines making noise," says Biff of those early, industrial days, "It's what heavy metal is all about. Heavy metal is all about hard, big sounds bashing your skull in. I used to work in factories where big machinery made lot of noise and I used to sing along to the noises they made. 

"We basically played every dump and shithole that there is in England over a period, probably just short of eight years," laughs Biff. "You know classic cliché of transit van, up and down and we used to play more or less every night. One gig might be a good paying gig and the other one might be no money or ten quid, but it was an obsession; you had to play every day. 

"We do have a great legacy," says Byford, "whether you joined the band in 1994 or (as) an original member. There's a legacy there and I've tried hard to not let people demean it and to spoil it and you have to look after that thing that is SAXON." 

Biff sums it up better than I can.  All that’s left This is a true look at the history of one of the most worldwide successful Metal bands on the planet.  There is also a full concert included that shows Saxon are still riding high and keeping their fist in the air.  

By Jeb Wright