Diamond Head band photo

Brian Tatler Confirms DIAMOND HEAD on Hiatus as SAXON Roars Forward

By Jason •
The metal legend juggles band commitments while crafting a thunderous new album.

In a move that has left the metal community buzzing, DIAMOND HEAD's founding guitarist Brian Tatler has confirmed that the iconic band is entering a hiatus while he takes center stage with heavy metal titans SAXON. Speaking with Eamon O'Neill of Eonmusic during last weekend's Maid Of Stone festival, Tatler revealed that his commitment to SAXON comes on the heels of their new album, "Gods Of Thunder," set to unleash its fury in January 2027.

Tatler, who joined SAXON in 2023 after Paul Quinn's retirement from touring, disclosed that he has already contributed new material to the upcoming release, continuing a creative journey that began on SAXON’s 2024 album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation." The axe-slinger emphasized the collaborative spirit within SAXON, assuring fans that Quinn remains in the fold, and should inspiration strike, the door for his return to songwriting is wide open.

“Biff said they're still friends with Paul,” Tatler explained. “If Paul has an idea, Biff would absolutely jump all over it. That’s just how we roll—we feed Biff ideas, and he picks out the gems from the pile.” The camaraderie among these metal veterans is palpable, but Tatler’s heart remains tethered to DIAMOND HEAD, a band that has been his lifeblood since 1976.

“When I first joined SAXON, I thought I could manage both, but it’s a beast of a challenge,” he confessed, acknowledging that the demands of touring and recording with SAXON have made it hard to balance the two projects. “It’s not a breakup; DIAMOND HEAD is just going to take a breather until the right opportunity arises.”

For now, Tatler is fully immersed in SAXON, but he harbors hopes for DIAMOND HEAD's resurgence in the future. Given their profound influence on the thrash metal scene—most notably METALLICA’s iconic covers of songs like “Am I Evil?”—the legacy of DIAMOND HEAD is far from extinguished. According to Tatler, the band’s connection to METALLICA has opened doors and created opportunities, allowing them to continue their journey in the metal realm.

The full interview with Tatler is available now at Eonmusic, offering fans an in-depth look at the crossroads of metal history as two legendary bands forge ahead in their respective paths.