ALBUM REVIEW: Saber – Without Warning

Following their killer debut 7″, traditional Heavy Metallers SABER have returned without warning to deliver their debut album, “Without Warning”. The album is out now independently.

Cracking thunder starts the album as a hammer pounds an anvil, certainly a Metal way to set off before firestorms of riffs, pounding drums and piercing vocals kick into a storm of speeding fury. The shrill vocals deliver molten Metal atop a ravenous array of killer musicianship that harkens back to the glory days of the NWOBHM with a precise and untamed delivery that honours the classics beautifully. The formidable guitar skills really come through in the solos, though plenty of fun riffs packed with sleaze offer a truly enjoyable take on old school Metal without feeling overly derivative. The only downside to the sound is the vocals are slightly too dominant in the mix which at times is jarring. This aside, from the get-go we see a fantastic performance of maniacal Metal mayhem that will hopefully not lose momentum.

Crushing drum work continues to fall in line with various fills and kicking grooves that pack a solid punch for the catchy riffs to deliver a melodic yet fierce blend of brutality to. The thundery, galloping bass certainly doesn’t fall behind either with rhythmic battery staying consistent throughout. All of this works wonders with the superbly wailed vocals that shriek with all of the passion of a die-hard Heavy Metal singer, the old way. I will be the first to admit I am happy to see more bands going back to the roots of Metal, as this sound is timeless. I can say, as I did about their EP, that Saber deliver a mighty demonstration of why this is a good thing, one I cannot have too much of. Naturally there will always be a somewhat less original approach to these kinds of bands, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deliver killer songs by any means. I challenge any Metalhead to start this record and not rip through the whole thing.

A storm of steel with monstrously good musicianship, catchy tracks and an overall gloriously intact feeling of traditional Heavy Metal. Certainly a band to keep an eye on if you desire pure 80s carnage with sincerity and grace, but most importantly, killer songwriting and skilful musicianship. A total ripper!