British heavy metal legends SAXON have announced the first UK and Ireland leg of their highly anticipated "Gods Of Thunder" world tour.

The tour will feature further international dates to be revealed in the coming months.

A major highlight of the U.K.

and Ireland shows will be the return of SAXON's iconic mechanized Eagle, a 30-foot symbol of the band's history.

Originally constructed for SAXON's massive arena tours of the early 1980s, the Eagle has become an enduring emblem of the band.

It made its first appearance during a pre-tour rehearsal in London before becoming an integral part of SAXON's live shows.

Fans have long requested the Eagle's presence at each show, and its return promises to be one of the most spectacular live presentations in SAXON's history.,SAXON frontman Biff Byford comments: "We wanted to make the 'Gods Of Thunder' U.K.

and Ireland tour extra special.

And what better way than to fly our beloved SAXON Eagle again...

Get ready for take-off!",The first UK and Ireland leg of the tour includes dates at civic halls, arenas, and theaters in Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton, and London.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 26 at 9 a.m.

and are available from SAXON's official website.,In related news, SAXON has also announced the release date for their upcoming studio album on January 22 of next year.

This latest development follows previous statements about the album's progress, including Byford's update about completing chemotherapy sessions earlier this year.",