British heavy metal legends SAXON have recruited DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler for upcoming live shows, creating a momentous union between two pillars of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that is sure to send a thrill through the hearts of NWOBHM devotees worldwide. The move comes as SAXON continue recording their twenty-fifth studio album with acclaimed producer Andy Sneap, whose work with JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, and KREATOR has made him one of metal's most trusted studio architects.
The album follows 2024's "Hell, Fire And Damnation," which was released to strong reviews and demonstrated that SAXON remain creatively vital after nearly five decades of service to the heavy metal cause. The new record is targeted for a late 2026 release, promising to extend the band's remarkable run of quality output that stretches back to their self-titled debut in 1979.
In health news that has brought relief to the metal community, frontman Biff Byford has shared a positive update: six months after his cancer operation, a CT scan showed everything is clear. The diagnosis and subsequent surgery in 2025 had raised serious concerns about the future of both SAXON and Byford's career, forcing the cancellation of summer shows while the vocalist underwent treatment and recovery. His return to form represents a personal triumph that adds emotional weight to every note the band plays going forward.
Tatler's inclusion in the live lineup links two of the most historically significant bands in the NWOBHM pantheon on one stage. DIAMOND HEAD's influence on heavy metal is incalculable — their 1980 debut "Lightning to the Nations" directly inspired METALLICA, who covered four DIAMOND HEAD songs on their early recordings. Tatler's fluid, melodic guitar style and his gift for crafting anthemic riffs complement SAXON's own brand of muscular, fist-pumping British metal perfectly.
The collaboration also speaks to the camaraderie among NWOBHM veterans, many of whom have maintained friendships spanning over four decades through the shared experience of building heavy metal's foundations during those electrifying early years in British clubs and pubs.