NIGEL GLOCKLER On Upcoming SAXON Album: 'It's A Lot More Groove Orientated, But It's Very Heavy'

In a new interview with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation, drummer Nigel Glockler of British heavy metal legends SAXON spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to their 24th studio album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", which came out in January 2024 via Silver Lining Music. Asked what fans can expect from SAXON's next LP, Nigel said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's not quite so many sort of what I'd call thrash-type feels on it. I mean, 'Hell, Fire [And Damnation]' had 'Fire And Steel', which was so fast, it was almost like 'last one home makes the tea.' [Laughs] So, no, there's not so much fast stuff. It's a lot more groove orientated, but it's very heavy. There's a lot more groove on it. And I think for me, that's the most important thing for any track. It's gotta groove, whether it's 500 miles an hour or 20."

Regarding how he approaches the making of a new SAXON album, Nigel said: "Whenever we record, I actually always record with a click track, 'cause that's how I wanna do it. Because the thing is, we generally get a song written, arranged and whatever, and then we go into a studio or wherever we are demoing, wherever we're rehearsing or whatever, and generally we'll sort of mess around with a click to try and get that right so the track's sitting perfectly within a groove. Sometimes two beats up, it can be, like, 'Oh, that seems a little bit rushed.' So that's always how we do it. I mean, for instance, with this latest stuff that we are doing, we had the songs written and arranged, and we went into a rehearsal studio and we actually laid down the demos with clicks. I was the only one that had the click, so to speak. But it was just to make sure that everything sat right. And then how we record, how actually I like to record, I like to record on my own. Because 've got the click — the other guys can be there, but I've got the click and I've got the guide of the guitars that went over on the demo, so I know exactly where I am in the song. But then you make sure that it's sitting right and then they re-record their parts."

This past July, SAXON frontman Biff Byford told Riff X's "Metal XS" about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's upcoming effort: " Well, we've started writing the next album. I'm doing lyrics now. And I've got a lot of ideas from [guitarist Doug Scarratt], Nigel as well, and from Nibbs [bassist Tim Carter]. 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."

This past April, Biff told Uruguay's The Dark Melody that he and his bandmates had "been writing" new music "for about six or seven weeks now, off and on. So yeah, we're coming in with some ideas and I've got some ideas for songs, for titles. And, yeah, it's coming along.

"It will be out next year, I think," he continued. "We're probably gonna start recording in November, when we finish touring. We'll probably go in and record the drums and bass and the basic guitars and some guide vocals then. So, yeah, we're pretty much on it. We're working towards the new album. It's going well."

A little over two months ago, Byford shared a video update in which he said he had completed the final round of chemotherapy in his fight against bowel cancer.

Although Biff released a video message in August in which he implied that he underwent an operation to remove "a small tumor" from his "prostate gland", he later clarified that he was actually diagnosed with bowel cancer, which is cancer that is found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. Byford was later treated with chemotherapy for "a short period", resulting in the cancelation of a couple of shows and the postponement of several others.

Earlier in the year, SAXON announced the cancelation of 10 summer shows and festival appearances while Byford was recovering from the cancer surgery.

In August 2024, Biff underwent a "procedure" to treat atrial flutter, a type of heart rhythm abnormality, or arrhythmia, that causes the heart's upper chambers (atria) to beat too quickly.

In September 2019, Biff suffered a heart attack and underwent an emergency triple bypass surgery.

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" was produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering.

In early 2023, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by DIAMOND HEAD legend Brian Tatler.

Brian has been touring with Doug, Nigel, Nibbs and Biff since mid-2023, but continues to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".