Saxon "Call to Arms"

Call To Arms is the nineteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon. Call to Arms was released 3 June in Europe; 6 June in Denmark, Finland, and the UK; 8 June in Greece and Poland; 10 June in France. Previously, it was due to be released on 23 May 2011. The album was released on 27 September in North America by EMI. Current Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey made a guest appearance on the album.

Saxon frontman Biff Byford stated that the band wanted to "get back to [their] roots," and aimed for a "more working-class sound" with the album.

While recording the album in February 2011, the band posted a message to its fans, calling on them to visit the band at the studio on the evening of 10 February. The reason for the appeal was that the band needed a chorus for the track "Back in '79", and decided to offer its fans the chance to be a part of the recording.

Saxon were originally supposed to appear at the Soundwave festival in Australia, but were forced to cancel their appearance due to delays during recording. The band also issued a statement apologizing to fans for the cancellation.

Two of the tracks on the album were written by Saxon for the movie Hybrid Theory.

The album artwork is derived from Lord Kitchener Wants You, a World War I-era British Army recruitment poster.

Call to Arms debuted at number 6 on the UK Rock Albums chart. In the US, the album sold about 700 copies in its first week of release and managed to debut at number 51 on the US "Heatseekers" chart.

A digipack version of the album for the North American market featured a seven track bonus disc containing most of Saxon's performance at Castle Donington in 1980.

To promote the album, Saxon have embarked on the "Call to Arms World Tour". The band headlined shows in Europe, North and South America, and Japan. Anvil and Crimes of Passion opened for Saxon in Europe, while the North American shows were opened by Borealis. HammerFall appeared as special guests at the UK shows, while Vanderbuys were presented as special guests at shows in Spain.

"Hammer of the Gods" was released as a single to promote Call to Arms on 18 March 2011. In addition two music videos were made ("Hammer of the Gods" and the title track.) to promote the album.

Track listing

1. "Hammer of the Gods" 4:23
2. "Back in 79" 3:28
3. "Surviving Against the Odds" 2:59
4. "Mists of Avalon" 5:02
5. "Call to Arms" 4:28
6. "Chasing the Bullet" 4:14
7. "Afterburner" 3:06
8. "When Doomsday Comes" (Hybrid Theory soundtrack) 4:29
9. "No Rest for the Wicked" 3:09
10. "Ballad of the Working Man" 3:48
11. "Call to Arms" (Orchestral Version) 4:28

The gang vocal section on the song "Back in 79" was performed by 79 Saxon fans.

The cover art is based on Alfred Leete's Lord Kitchener Wants You recruitment poster used in Britain during the First World War.

Recording information:

Recorded at Chapel Studios in South Thoresby Lines and Brighton Electric in Brighton.