British heavy metal legends SAXON check in with New Years greetings from leader Biff Byford:

Saxon recently hit the US Billboard charts with Unplugged And Strung Up - a series of alternative takes on classic favourites - out via UDR Music. Unplugged And Strung Up debuted at #52 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and #89 on the Billboard Top Rock Chart. Check out a 15-minute EPK (electronic press kit) below:

Unplugged And Strung Up reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic Saxon songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, UK earlier this year, Biff Byford and co re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized the towering likes of 'The Eagle Has Landed' and 'Crusader' by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. 'Frozen Rainbow' from the band's 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, whilst 'Red Star Falling' soars and sweeps the emotions with it's orchestrally-arranged dovetail.

As if this reinvention wasn't enough, Saxon superfans and collectors can purchase a digipak version of the release which includes 2002's storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-metal re-recorded hits Heavy Metal Thunder. Featuring staple Saxon stormers such as 'Motorcycle Man', 'Strong Arm Of The Law' and 'Dallas 1PM' it is a quintessential part of any collection.

"When heavy metal goes symphonic it can be disastrous," Saxon singer Biff Byford to BraveWords recently. "I think you need to add something to the song and not totally blitz it into CHOPIN or something. That's a mistake too many bands make - too much orchestra. But this one is sounding great. It's just a matter of adding an orchestra to a song to make it feel different."

Unplugged And Strung Up features the following tracklisting:

'Stallions Of The Highway' (remix)

'Crusader' (orchestral version)

'Battle Cry'

'The Eagle Has Landed' (orchestral version)

'Red Star Falling' (orchestral version)

'Broken Heroes' (orchestral version)

'Call To Arms' (orchestral version)

'Militia Guard'

'Forever Free' (re-recorded version)

'Just Let Me Rock' (re-recorded version)

'Frozen Rainbow' (acoustic version)

'Iron Wheels' (live acoustic version)

'Requiem' (acoustic version)

'Coming Home' (acoustic version)

Heavy Metal Thunder tracklisting:

'Heavy Metal Thunder'

'Strong Arm Of The Law'

'Power & The Glory'

'And The Bands Played On'

'Crusader'

'Dallas 1PM'

'Princess Of The Night'

'Wheels Of Steel'

'747 (Strangers In The Night)'

'Motorcycle Man'

'Never Surrender'

'Denim & Leather'

'Backs To The Wall'

The standard single CD of Unplugged And Strung Up comes in a jewel case, and a double-vinyl gatefold sleeve version of the release is also available. The digipack is a two-disc version of the release featuring the bonus disc Heavy Metal Thunder, and there is a digital release of the same.

A video of the band performing 'Frozen Rainbow' can be seen below, courtesy of Metal Hammer: