SAXON Rock The Nations Rare German DMM Vinyl LP with Elton John & Custom Inner Sleeve #saxon

"Rock The Nations" Album Description:

In the world of British Heavy Metal history, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement stands as a pivotal moment, birthing iconic bands that left an indelible mark on the genre. Among these stalwarts, Saxon emerged as a force to be reckoned with, and their 1986 release, "Rock The Nations," remains a testament to the band's prowess and the spirit of the NWOBHM era.

The album, recorded at the esteemed Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, captures the essence of a time when heavy metal was undergoing a renaissance. The early to mid-1980s witnessed a surge in creativity within the metal community, and Saxon's "Rock The Nations" was a significant contribution to this musical reawakening.

One distinctive feature of this album is the notable guest appearance by the legendary Elton John on a couple of tracks. This unexpected collaboration added a unique layer to Saxon's sound, showcasing the band's willingness to experiment and push boundaries within the heavy metal landscape.

Released as a 12" vinyl LP, "Rock The Nations" not only epitomized the sonic landscape of the NWOBHM movement but also highlighted the enduring appeal of the vinyl format during this period. Vinyl records were the preferred medium for music enthusiasts, offering a tangible connection to the music that surpassed the transient nature of digital formats.

The European release of the album further solidified Saxon's influence on the global metal scene. Europe, with its rich musical heritage, became a thriving ground for the NWOBHM movement, and Saxon's "Rock The Nations" found a receptive audience across the continent.

The production quality of the album, owing to the expertise of Wisseloord Studios, added a level of sophistication to Saxon's raw and energetic sound. Each track, meticulously crafted, showcased the band's musical prowess and lyrical prowess, cementing their status as one of the premier acts of the era.

Music Genre:

NWOBHM Heavy Metal Music

Album Production Information:

Producer : Gary Lyons

Recorded at : Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Holland , 1986

Mixed at : Wisseloord Studios

Elton John plays piano on tracks 7 & 9

Artwork by : Paul Gregory

Record Label & Catalognr:

EMI 1C 064-24 0623 1

Packaging: This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by Saxon and photos of Saxon's band-members

Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP Record Audiophile DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) pressing

Year & Country:

1986 Made in Germany

Band Members and Musicians on: SAXON - Rock The Nations NWOBHM

Band-members, Musicians and Performers

Biff Byford - Vocals, Bass

Biff Byford (real-name: Peter Rodney Byford) born in the year 1951 in Skelmanthorpe, Win England. Lead singer in the bands “Son of a Bitch” from 1977 until 1978, followed by being lead-singer in the SAXON band

Byford formed Saxon in 1977 and has been a constant member of the band ever since. Over the years, Saxon has become one of the most influential bands in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, and Byford's powerful voice and charismatic stage presence have been a key part of their success.

In addition to his work with Saxon, Byford has also worked on various solo projects and collaborated with other musicians. He has been widely recognized for his contributions to the heavy metal genre, and has been referred to as one of the most influential heavy metal singers of all time.

Byford is known for his unique vocal style, which features a blend of powerful and melodic singing, and his distinctive stage presence and energy have made him a popular figure among heavy metal fans around the world.
Graham Oliver - Guitar
Graham Oliver a guitarist and bass player , born in 1952 Mexborough, England. He was founding member and one of the main song-writer in the British Heavy Metal band Saxon. He started his career around 1975 in a band called “Son of a Bitch”.
Paul Quinn - Guitar
Paul Quinn (full-name: Paul Anthony Quinn) is one of original founding members of Saxon and started in the Coast and "Son Of Bitch" bands.
Pete Gill - Drums
Pete Gill - Drums, one of the co-founders of the British bands: "Son Of A Bitch" and "Saxon", he has played drums in two major British Heavy Metal bands: "Saxon" and "Motorhead" .
Paul Johnson - bass (actually bass guitar was played by Byford before Johnson joined the band)

Complete Track Listing of: Rock The Nations

The Song/tracks on "Rock The Nations" are:

Rock the Nations – 4:40
Battle Cry – 5:26
Waiting For the Night (Byford/Glockler) – 4:51
We Came Here to Rock – 4:18
You Ain't No Angel – 5:28
Running Hot (Byford/Quinn/Oliver/Dawson/Glockler) – 3:35
Party Til You Puke – 3:25
Empty Promises – 4:09
Northern Lady – 4:42

SAXON - Rock The Nations High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of SAXON - Rock The Nations

The album cover features the band SAXON standing in a foggy, bluish-toned landscape dominated by large, sculpted stone letters forming the word 'SAXON'. Each band member poses individually, wearing dark, leather-heavy 1980s metal attire. A moon glows behind the stone structure. The atmosphere is misty and dramatic, evoking a medieval battlefield. — The front cover of *Rock The Nations* by SAXON portrays an atmospheric and dramatic scene. A massive stone logo of the band name “SAXON” dominates the center, rendered in a bold medieval typeface. The stone letters appear weathered and monumental, casting shadows across the terrain.

Set against a fog-laden and moonlit night sky, the backdrop glows in hues of blue and silver, lending an ethereal and slightly ominous tone to the composition. Wisps of mist drift across the rocky ground beneath the logo, enhancing the cover’s fantasy-like atmosphere.

The five band members are positioned strategically around and on the stone letters. Each is clad in classic 1980s heavy metal attire—tight black leather pants, jackets with studs, and long flowing hair. Their postures vary from relaxed to assertive, with strong stage presence and expressions of intensity and confidence.

The lighting is stylized, with a soft spotlight from above casting subtle highlights on the members and the stone, while shadows enhance the sculptural depth of the logo. The overall impression evokes power, permanence, and mysticism—hallmarks of SAXON’s heavy metal identity in the NWOBHM movement.

Photo Of The Back Cover SAXON - Rock The Nations

The back cover of SAXON's Rock The Nations LP features a bold and atmospheric layout. Dominating the top center is the band’s metallic silver logo with a battle-axe motif, paired with the album title “Rock The Nations” in a steel-framed font, evoking industrial strength and medieval grit.

Below the title, the track listing is divided into two sides and printed in all uppercase white sans-serif text. Side 1 includes "Rock The Nations," "Battle Cry," "Waiting for the Night," and more. Side 2 lists "You Ain’t No Angel," "Running Hot," and other tracks.

Production and personnel credits are presented in structured columns. The band members are listed in bold, capitalized roles: Biff Byford (vocals), Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn (lead guitars), Nigel Glockler (drums), and Paul Johnson (bass).

The background art extends the fantasy ambiance from the front, resembling a jagged stone cavern bathed in shadows and tinged with icy blue mist, subtly illuminating parts of the rock. There is a yellow price sticker on the top-right corner and a barcode directly below it.

The credits thank Elton John for guest vocals and piano, and recognize multiple studios and engineers. The “Direct Metal Mastering” (DMM) and EMI logos appear at the bottom along with publishing, copyright, and fan club information.

Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve SAXON - Rock The Nations

This custom inner sleeve illustration for Rock The Nations by SAXON is a powerful piece of emblematic artwork. At its center, a metallic silver eagle with menacing red eyes spreads its wings, gripping the stylized SAXON band logo with its talons. The eagle is sculpted with armored precision, symbolizing strength, vigilance, and dominion.

Behind the eagle, a semi-circular fan of vibrant international flags bursts outward, representing a wide range of nations including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Greece, France, Japan, and more. The colors are saturated and crisp, each flag rendered in meticulous detail.

Arched above this patriotic display is a metallic banner inscribed with the album title “ROCK THE NATIONS” in embossed lettering. The arch and flags together create a sense of global unity and the universal language of rock music.

The background texture mimics chiseled stone or slate, dark gray in tone, giving the artwork a grounded, monumental feel. The overall composition evokes themes of power, unity, and Saxon's role as ambassadors of heavy metal on the international stage.

Photo Two of the original custom inner sleeve SAXON - Rock The Nations

Second inner sleeve of SAXON's Rock The Nations LP, featuring full printed lyrics for all songs in white text on a dark slate background, alongside five color portrait photos of band members in 1980s metal attire. — This custom inner sleeve of SAXON's *Rock The Nations* is designed as a comprehensive lyrics sheet paired with band portraits. The entire layout is printed over a textured, dark slate background resembling rough stone, enhancing the rugged aesthetic typical of NWOBHM albums.

Lyrics for all nine songs are printed in dense white text, arranged in three columns. The text is set in a small, condensed serif typeface, readable against the dark surface, and flows vertically across the page. Song titles like *“Rock the Nations,” “Battle Cry,” “You Ain’t No Angel,”* and *“Northern Lady”* are in uppercase for easy navigation.

Interspersed among the lyrics are five color photographs of the band members. At the top center, a rectangular group shot shows the full band clad in ornate black-and-gold military-style jackets with long 1980s hair and intense expressions. Below, individual square portraits feature:

Biff Byford, with bright blonde hair and studded shoulder gear, labeled *“We Came Here to Rock”*.

Graham Oliver, with red bandana and blond curls, labeled *“Northern Lady”*.

Nigel Glockler, with dark hair and a serious stare, labeled *“Battle Cry.”*

Paul Quinn, with a full curly mane, labeled *“Waiting for the Night.”*

This inner sleeve not only serves as a functional lyric insert but also as a vivid visual showcase of the band’s identity during this era, blending fashion, typographic clarity, and personality with the album’s heavy metal energy.

Close up of Side One SAXON - Rock The Nations record's label

This close-up image captures Side One of the vinyl label from SAXON’s Rock The Nations 12-inch LP. The label is a pale yellow matte background with high-contrast black typography, clearly printed for legibility.

At the top center, the SAXON band logo is prominently displayed in a stylized, metallic font featuring the band's iconic axe motif. Just beneath it, the tracklist is printed for Side 1, including the following songs:

Rock The Nations – 4:40
Battle Cry – 5:26
Waiting for the Night – 4:51
We Came Here to Rock – 4:20

The songwriting credits are listed under each title, attributing the tracks to Byford, Glockler, Oliver, and Quinn. The text "Produced by Gary Lyons" appears at the bottom of the list.

Technical and rights information ring the outer edge in red, including warnings against unauthorized reproduction and public broadcasting. The label also features key identifiers such as:

Catalog number: 1C 064-24 0623 1 A
DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) logo
EMI logo in red at the bottom center
STEREO, GEMA, and ST 33 notations

A small circular hole is precisely punched in the center for turntable mounting. Minor spindle marks and surface texture are visible, adding authenticity to this archival photo of a classic NWOBHM pressing.