School of Hard Knocks, the first full-length offering by legendary frontman Biff Byford is out now via Silver Lining Music. To celebrate its release, Byford unveils the new video of his take on the classic song, ‘Scarborough Fair’.
Explains Byford:
“The new single Scarborough Fair is a Yorkshire Folk song about the town on the east coast of England. Apart from the song, Scarborough is also famous for its medieval market and takes its name from a Viking chief called Scar, I believe. We shot the video on a freezing early morning… Enjoy!”
School of Hard Knocks features Biff Byford on vocals (and a spot of four string thunder) along with Fredrik Åkesson (Opeth) on guitars, drummer Christian Lundqvist and bass player Gus Macricostas. The album also features guest appearances by Phil Campbell (Motörhead/Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire and Turilli / Lione Rhapsody), Nick Barker (Voices), Dave Kemp (Wayward Sons) and Nibbs Carter (Saxon). The album was produced by Biff Byford, recorded by Jacky Lehmann at Brighton Electric Studios in Brighton (UK) and mixed at Queen Street Studios in Stockholm (Sweden) by Mats Valentin.
Watch the previously released videos for ‘Welcome to the Show’, ‘School of Hard Knocks’ and “Me and You” HERE.
“Good old hard rock but also tender with the gentle played guitar… Saxon fans and heavy fans can’t go wrong with the solid SOHK”
-- [Metal Hammer]
“Biff Byford is walking in AC/DC kick-ass style through the genres and is not afraid to get into prog-metal... A must have for all Saxon fans but all others will be positively surprised”
-- [Deaf Forever]
“School of Hard Knocks is an album that offers quality until the end!”
-- [Rock Hard]
“Byford delivers a remarkably varied record packed with rockers, ballads, Poe-inspiring prog workouts and a title track featuring a solo from former Motorhead Guitarist Phil Campbell”
-- [Decibel Magazine]
"With 22 Saxon albums out, a solo album from Biff Byford may seem like it's for completists only, but that's far from the case with 'School of Hard Knocks' and it's high-kicking, freewheeling rock 'n' roll edge that has this 69-year-old sounding ready for another 40 years of battle"
-- [Loudwire]
“An amazing offering that showcases his versatility as vocalist and songwriter”
-- [Brutal Planet Magazine]
“Everything you’d expect from one of the greatest metal singers in the history of British Metal”
-- [Metal Express Radio]
School of Hard Knocks is OUT NOW! Available on CD, Vinyl, Digital formats and special D2C bundles HERE
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