SARACEN – Red Sky [Escape Music reissue] (2025), MP3+FLAC

SARACEN was one of the first bands of the so-called New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. Their glorious debut album – Heroes, Saints and Fools from 1981 – remains a timeless classic from the era with its heavy metal riffs, however Saracen were a different beast as they built in all sorts of keyboards / synths and other pomp / prog elements to big things up, along with Rob Bendelow’s searing guitar and Steve Bettney’s soaring vocals.

They released another LP in 1984 and a couple of singles, and then just seemed to disappeared off the face of the Earth. Just as mysterious as their disappearance was their reappearance in the early 2000s with the sumptuous album ”Red Sky” (2003).
Now after more than two decades, Escape Music have a re-release of Saracen’s ”Red Sky” album, and glad they did it. Presenting new artwork, it’s limited to 500 CD and 300 vinyl.
Some of the earlier Eighties songs appear in re-recorded form along with some new tracks. All excellent stuff. So we have classic-80s songwriting here, but also a fantastic fresh sound production. Bendelow’s guitar work is sublime with cutting riffs and melodic solos. Bettney’s vocals are so on point melodic and powerful, while Richard Lowe’s keyboard work is so good as he provides all the atmospheric swells, swirls and the glorious synth breaks.
”Red Sky” is a terrific record, no matter which way you look at it. It’s got elements of NWOBHM, hard rock, AOR, and even progressive rock. All these elements make for a unique album the likes of which are hard to come by.

Lifelong friends Richard Lowe (keyboards) and Rob Bendelow (guitar) formed their first band “Lammergier” during the mid-1970’s together with bassist Barry Yates. Following their first love performance in 1977 the band gigged extensively across the British midlands.
The standard of these performances combined with their unique brand of symphonic rock saw “Lammergier” amass a large and loyal following. Then a new decade arrived changes were made, the music remained the same, but they called themselves “Saracen”.

After several months on the road Saracen decided it was time to record an album, and in October 1981 they released “Heroes, Saints and Fools” to critical acclaim. Saracen tracks received regular airplay on Tommy Vance’s Friday night rock show. In 1983 line-up changes occurred, the band recorded a strong second album in 1984, but the band eventually stopped touring in 1985.
Almost two decades later and the band re-appear with a vengeance and the release of this “Red Sky” in March 2003 put the band firmly back on the map.

”Red Sky” consists of mostly newly recorded versions of songs from their two full-length studio albums from the early 1980s, and a few new songs to boot. Good thing, as the band finally gave these great songs the treatment they deserved and they have come out sounding absolutely fantastic.
Steve Bettney voice is better than in the 80s, the keyboard stabs more precise, and the whole troupe has stepped it up a notch.

We start of with two heavy songs from their heyday, which sound absolutely outstanding in their new form. The guys have added a few elements and especially we have arrived sounds more epic now. ‘Faith’ is a power ballad with some beautiful melodies, while the 1981’s cult-classic ‘Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ sees them return to a more metal style.

‘Castles in the Sand’ is another beautiful AOR softy, while ‘Heroes, Saints and Fools’ gives Saracen even greater credibility due to the composition’s great developments, making it sound almost progressive metal in nature. The next two pieces hurry by with some quick metal riffs.
‘Ménage a Trois’ is a track with a subtler approach, showcasing the band’s instrumental ability with great interplay between the guitar and two guest saxophones (hence the title). The piece become faster towards the end, when the guitar adopts a more metal approach yet again.

The next song ‘Ride Shotgun With the Wind’ is a hard rock number about the freedom of riding on a motorcycle. Lyrics apart, again some strong ideas on this. ‘Angel Eyes’ is a return to power ballad territory with Bettney and guest female singer Dagi Kaletsch serenading one another in grand fashion – totally overblown and totally wonderful.
‘Follow the Piper’ is a fan favorite and the first song Saracen ever wrote – another heavy metal with scorching riffs and a good complementing synth line.

What can I say about this record? As you can see from the descriptions of the songs, there’s a little bit of everything here. You have great AOR moments, some killer heavy metal, punchy hard rock and some fantastic progressive elements as well.
If you think ”Red Sky” is just a typical NWOBHM or AOR (because of the Escape Music label) album, you’d be way off base. Saracen is much more than that, combining elements of several genres and incorporating some unorthodox instruments as well (saxophone). The vocals often play a key role. Bettney is fantastic throughout, as are his accomplices.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – We Have Arrived
02 – Red Sky
03 – Faith
04 – Horsemen of the Apocalypse
05 – Castles in the Sand
06 – Heroes, Saints & Fools
07 – Flame of Youth
08 – Jekyll & Hyde
09 – Ménage a Trois
10 – Ride Shotgun With the Wind
11 – Angel Eyes
12 – Follow the Piper

Steve Bettney – vocals
Rob Bendelow – guitar
Richard Lowe – keyboards
Richard Bendelow – bass guitar
Jamie Little – drums

with:
Dagi Kaletsch – Vocals (track 11)
Russell Mall – Vocals (track 5)
Geoff Price – Vocals (track 6)
John Davison – Saxophone (alto, track 9)
Sophie Freeman – Saxophone (tenor, tracks 5, 9)

MP3 FLAC