Thunderbolt (album)
{{Short description|Album by Saxon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Thunderbolt
| type = studio
| artist = Saxon
| cover = Album_cover_of_Saxon_-_Thunderbolt_(2018).jpg
| alt =
| released = 2 February 2018
| recorded = 2017
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Heavy metal
| length = 42:46
| label = Silver Lining Music
| producer = Andy Sneap
| prev_title = Let Me Feel Your Power
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Inspirations
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Metal Hammer (Germany)
| noprose = yes
}}
Thunderbolt is the twenty-second studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 2 February 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-to-release-thunderbolt-album-in-february-cover-artwork-track-listing-revealed/|title=Saxon To Release 'Thunderbolt' Album In February; Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=7 November 2017|accessdate=8 November 2017|archive-date=17 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017224144/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-to-release-thunderbolt-album-in-february-cover-artwork-track-listing-revealed|url-status=live}}
Background
On 14 September 2016, the band revealed they had begun writing song for the new album through their Facebook account.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/saxon/photos/a.299917470039814.75103.115147408516822/1246483008716584/?type=3&theater|title=Saxon (Official)|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=7 November 2017}} A month later, frontman Biff Byford revealed they had written a song dedicated to Motörhead called "They Played Rock n Roll", following the death of frontman Lemmy on 28 December 2015, which ended the band's 40-year history. The song is stylistically similar and referenced their touring companionship on the 1979/1980 "Bomber" tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-singer-discusses-motorhead-tribute-song-they-played-rock-and-roll-video/|title=SAXON Singer Discusses MOTÖRHEAD Tribute Song 'They Played Rock And Roll' (Video)|date=16 October 2016|website=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=7 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222237/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-singer-discusses-motorhead-tribute-song-they-played-rock-and-roll-video/|url-status=live}}
In an interview alongside Airbourne frontman Joel O'Keeffe at 2017's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, Byford confirmed that the album's title would be Thunderbolt and that the inspiration for it came from the gods of Greek mythology.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Xsy65XS0Q|title=Airbourne Joel O'Keefe & Saxon Interview Metal Hammer Golden God Awards|last=Red Carpet News TV|date=15 June 2017|accessdate=7 November 2017|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521104645/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Xsy65XS0Q&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}
Further details were revealed on various stops on their autumn tour of the US and Canada. In an interview at their Newton, New Jersey show on 22 September, he revealed that he'd finished recording his vocals on 20 September.{{cite web|url=https://myglobalmind.com/2017/09/27/biff-byford-saxon-people-respect-us-still-making-great-metal-albums/|title=Biff Byford of Saxon – People Respect Us Because We are Still Making Great Metal Albums! Myglobalmind Online Magazine|date=27 September 2017|website=Myglobalmind.com|accessdate=7 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107221849/https://myglobalmind.com/2017/09/27/biff-byford-saxon-people-respect-us-still-making-great-metal-albums/|url-status=live}} In an interview at their Montreal, Canada show on 4 October, Byford revealed that long-time producer Andy Sneap had finished mixing the album the previous day and mentioned a release date of 21 January 2018 (which later turned out to be incorrect).{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJx_67lXps|title=Saxon Biff Byford Interview-Talks New Album Thunderbolt, Lemmy & Rainbow|last=The Metal Voice|date=6 October 2017|accessdate=7 November 2017|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516012911/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJx_67lXps&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}
On 7 November 2017, the band confirmed the title and revealed the release date of 2 February 2018, track list, artwork and a short UK/European tour alongside Diamond Head, with Magnum and Rock Goddess supporting on select UK dates.{{cite web|url=http://saxon747.com/en2/12-news/136-saxon-announce-new-album-and-tour|title=SAXON ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND TOUR|website=Saxon747.com|accessdate=7 November 2017|archive-date=12 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112020641/http://www.saxon747.com/en2/12-news/136-saxon-announce-new-album-and-tour|url-status=dead}}
On 30 November 2017, the new video "Thunderbolt" was released. The Record and especially the Motörhead Tribute Song on the Album, They Played Rock N Roll, is especially dedicated to former Motörhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke who died the previous month from Pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on 10 January 2018, just a month before Thunderbolt Albums release.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhXjKigrW0|title=Saxon – Thunderbolt (Official Video)|last=PlanetSaxon|date=30 November 2017|publisher=|accessdate=30 November 2017|via=YouTube|archive-date=30 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130140123/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhXjKigrW0&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}} On 19 September 2018, the "Predator" video was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJjItMfB6g|title=Saxon – Predator (Official Video)|last=PlanetSaxon|date=19 September 2018|publisher=|accessdate=13 October 2018|via=YouTube|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122003351/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJjItMfB6g&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}
Track listing
All music composed by Biff Byford, Doug Scarratt, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Nibbs Carter.
{{Track listing
| total_length = 42:46
| title1 = Olympus Rising
| note1 = Instrumental
| length1 = 1:32
| title2 = Thunderbolt
| length2 = 3:59
| title3 = The Secret of Flight
| length3 = 5:02
| title4 = Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)
| length4 = 5:00
| title5 = They Played Rock and Roll
| length5 = 3:39
| title6 = Predator
| length6 = 3:17
| title7 = Sons of Odin
| length7 = 5:22
| title8 = Sniper
| length8 = 3:36
| title9 = A Wizard’s Tale
| length9 = 3:52
| title10 = Speed Merchants
| length10 = 3:47
| title11 = Roadie's Song
| length11 = 3:31
}}
{{Track listing
| total_length = 47:47
| headline = Digipak Bonus Track & Japan bonus track
| title12 = Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)
| length12 = 5:01
| note12 = Raw Version
}}
{{Track listing
| total_length = 55:57
| headline = Special Tour Edition Bonus Tracks {{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-special-tour-edition-of-thunderbolt-to-be-released-in-september/|title=SAXON: Special Tour Edition Of 'Thunderbolt' To Be Released In September|date=19 July 2018 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=19 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720002245/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-special-tour-edition-of-thunderbolt-to-be-released-in-september/|url-status=live}}
| title1 = Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)
| note1 = Raw Version
| length1 = 5:01
| title2 = Thunderbolt
| note2 = Live in Frankfurt – Recorded on 2 March 2018
| length2 = 3:44
| title3 = Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)
| note3 = Live in Los Angeles – Recorded on 22 April 2018
| length3 = 4:26
}}
Credits
- Biff Byford – vocals
- Paul Quinn – guitars
- Doug Scarratt – guitars
- Nibbs Carter – bass
- Nigel Glockler – drums
;Additional Musicians
- Seb Byford – backing vocals on "Thunderbolt" and "Speed Merchants"
- Tom Witts – backing vocals on "Thunderbolt" and "Speed Merchants"
- Caleb Quaye – backing vocals on "Thunderbolt" and "Speed Merchants"
- Corvin Bahn – keyboards on "Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)"
- Johan Hegg – harsh vocals on "Predator"
;Production
- Billy Lee – photography
- Steph Byford – artwork (additional)
- Gestaltungskommando Buntmetall – layout, design
- Paul Raymond Gregory – cover art
- Andy Sneap – producer, engineering, mixing
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|18|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|53|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|48|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|29|date=201809|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 March 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|172|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|France|113|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|5|id=347263|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=9 February 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album/id:2630|title=Album – Classifica settimanale WK 6 (dal 2018-02-02 al 2018-02-08)|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=Italian|accessdate=10 February 2018|archive-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902074806/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album/id:2630|url-status=live}}
| 53 |
| {{album chart|Oricon|181|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/72553/products/1260771/1/|title=Saxon|publisher=Oricon|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 13, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|10|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/3635-%C3%81lbumes-semana-6-2018|title=Top 100 Albumes – Semana 6: del 2.2.2018 al 8.2.2018|publisher=Productores de Música de España|language=Spanish|accessdate=15 February 2018|format=PDF|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202812/http://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/3635-%C3%81lbumes-semana-6-2018|url-status=live}}
| 39 |
| scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/|title=Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|accessdate=10 February 2018|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720033503/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/|url-status=live}} Click on "Veckans albumlista".
| 13 |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|6|artist=Saxon|album=Thunderbolt|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|29|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|4|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|UKRock|2|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 February 2018}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Saxon}}
{{Nosferatu}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Andy Sneap
{{2010s-metal-album-stub}}