SAXON // THE OCTAGON, SHEFFIELD

Saxon: Still Riding The Wheels of Steel at their Sheffield Homecoming Anniversary

⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

Saxon @ Sheffield Octagon

Photo Credit: John Hayhurst

There are hometown gigs, and then there’s this. For Biff Byford, originally from up the road in Barnsley and now residing somewhere not far from me in the North Yorkshire hills, tonight’s show at the Sheffield Octagon isn’t just another stop on the tour—it’s a return to the forge where his NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Wheels of Steel were first hammered into shape.

The sold-out crowd, made up of denim and leather veterans, and offspring of said veterans, all know they’re watching one of their own come home.

Earlier, local openers Untamed Silence delivered a punchy warm-up. High-energy prog metalcore with big choruses, and thrilling powerful vocals from Debbie Wade, their set-highlight for me “You Are My Requiem” landed like a statement of intent —anthemic, ambitious, and way more polished than I expected.

Then came Udo Dirkschneider, the diminutive powerhouse from Accept, stomping through the entire ‘Balls to the Wall’ album. When the title track rolled out first, every fist in the Octagon was punching the air like it was 1983.“London Leatherboys” snarled, “Love Child” strutted, and “Turn Me On” hit with that unmistakable Teutonic crunch. Nostalgia, yes—but performed with enough grit to make it feel vital again. Dirkschneider’s helium and vodka infused vocals were as on point as they were 40 years ago.

When Saxon arrive, they look and sound enormous. The current line-up — Biff Byford on vocals, Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler on guitars, Nibbs Carter on bass, and Nigel Glockler on drums—move like a well-oiled machine. Tatler, fresh from Diamond Head, adds sharpness and NWOBHM history in equal measure, plus he’s got that flying V guitar that just looks the part.

The stage is like a museum exhibit dedicated to volume and light: a wall of Marshalls, chrome lit stairs leading up to the drum riser, and enough lighting to interrogate a nation. When Byford finally strides on, silver mane glinting under the spotlights, the place detonates. The band hit straight into “Hell, Fire & Damnation,” and for the next two hours, it’s a masterclass in stamina, riffs, and old-school Heavy Metal Thunder.

Early firecrackers like “Backs to the Wall”, “Never Surrender”, and “Dallas 1PM” tear through the air, but it’s Byford’s grin mid-set that signals something special: “It’s time to play the whole ‘Wheels of Steel’ Album front to back”.

Cue chaos. “Motorcycle Man” kicks off the album run and suddenly the Octagon’s bouncing like a pub in overdrive. “747 (Strangers in the Night)” arrives early, normally reserved for the encore along with the title song off the album. Every single track sounding gloriously raw and unvarnished, proof that Saxon’s early stuff still out-punches most bands half their age.

Then the encore and a big suprise. Out walks original guitarist Paul Quinn, greeted like a returning monarch. He plugs in for “Denim and Leather,” stays on for “And the Bands Played On,” and suddenly three generations of Saxon guitarists are sharing one stage. Finally, “Princess of the Night” thunders home, Byford holding the mic to the crowd as hundreds of sore Yorkshire throats try to do the heavy lifting.

Saxon first played Sheffield on their maiden UK tour, opening for Motörhead. Nearly five decades later, they’re back as conquering heroes. No reinvention, no apology—just riffs, grit, and the sound of great British heavy metal refusing to die. We may be older, have deep wrinkles on worn out leather skin, but we’ll ‘Never Surrender’.

Words and Photos: John Hayhurst