Guitar International's Robert Cavuoto has issued a new interview conducted with SAXON frontman Biff Byford, in which he talks up the band's new Sacrifice album. An excerpt follows:

Q: There are some really strong riffs on Sacrifice, reminiscent of the albums you put out in the ’80s.

A: "We worked quite hard coming up with the big riffs that we’re famous for. I wanted it to be as much Gibson and Marshall as possible without too many props or gimmicks and very few overdubs. To really just work on a great sound using twin guitars. We recorded the guitars in a box, we made a huge box and put a Marshall cabinet in there with three mics and we had a cab in the room. We put three mics on that and mixed the sound. Also we added two and three-part harmonies, which we haven’t been doing for quite some time, because of the heaviness of the band these days. I wanted to put that element back in."

Read the full interview at this location.

Saxon debuted on the German Media Control Charts at #14 with their new album, Sacrifice.

According to a press release, taking a sharper, re-invigorated approach to the production, on this, their 20th album, Saxon have produced 10 of their strongest, heaviest and most inspired songs for many-a-year, and a more than worthy successor to their last album, A Call To Arms.

Check out the video for 'Sacrifice' below:

Saxon tour dates:

March

26 - A Seringueira - Sao Paulo, Brazil
28 - El Teatro Flores - Buenos Aires, Argentina
30 - Gillmanfest - Caracas, Venezuela

April

18- Assembly - Leamington Spa, UK

19 - Rock City - Nottingham, UK
20 - Academy - Newcastle, UK
21 - ABC - Glasgow, UK
23 - Ritz - Manchester, UK
24 - Leeds, UK - Academy
26 - Wulfrun Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
27 - Shepherd's Bush Empire - London, UK
28 - Academy - Bristol, UK

June

7 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
8 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
10 - Brno, Czech Republic - Fleda
11 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
12 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Cvetlicarna
14 - Florence, Italy - Viper
15 - Rome, Italy - Orion
16 - Milan, Italy - Magazzini Generali
18 - Barcelona, Spain - Bikini
19 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Arena
21 - Clisson, France - Hellfest Festival
22 - Sankt Goarshausen, Germany - Metalfest
23 - Lucerne, Switzerland - Konzerthaus Schüür
24 - Solothum, Switzerland - Kofmhel
26 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos Saal
27 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
28 - Osnabrück, Germany - Halle Gartlage
29 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting