BLACKSLASH – Heroes, Saints & Fools (2025) *HQ*

German five-piece BLACKSLASH is a band devoted to carrying the torch of traditional heavy metal. Formed in 2007 they’ve become a driving force in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM), earning their stripes on stages across Europe. Their resume includes sharing the spotlight with legends like Blue Öyster Cult and Axel Rudi Pell, proving they’ve moved well beyond underground acclaim.
Drawing inspiration from iconic acts such as Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Riot, etc, BLACKSLASH strikes a balance between the authenticity of British working-class rock and the grandiose showmanship of American metal giants.
Now Blackslash is back with their fifth, new album ”Heroes, Saints & Fools”, the record delivers nine pure heavy metal anthems ranging from powerful, soaring hymns to high-energy headbangers.
BLACKSLASH’s sound is impressively pristine, with a separate twin guitar work – both axemen do different things at the same time and works greatly, and Clemens Haas’s voice is clean, clear, very melodic. ”Heroes, Saints & Fools” is focused to trad metal fans, but listeners of classic melodic metal / hard rock will find a lot to enjoy as well.
Don’t let the somehow naif cover art put you off – you’ll be surprised by the quality music of these guys.

The CD starts things off with the title track in melodic fashion with gleaming riffs, but as we move forward the song is fast, bright and full melodies that twist and turn mostly backed by a nice solid double walking pattern. The chorus lyrics take their time pausing between each word which is a a great little touch. The slower gallop section with harmonised guitar work is beautiful and then we are hit by whirling lead guitar section before being thrown back into the chorus. A great start to the album.
東京 (Tokyo) speeds forward with belting drum patterns and harmonies before reaching the first verse which the rhythm work leads. The song is full of silky smooth ideas mostly in the lead guitar harmonies which come in and out of the song magnificently.

Sacrificed enters with a midtempo drum line followed by playful panned guitar work before launching into the bulk of the song. The rhythm guitars are thick and heavy and that stays true through. WeI love Blackslashe’s use of harmonised guitar work and they know how to do it well both in the rhythm and lead the department.
Black Widow comes in ripping and roaring and you just want to headbang and fist pump to this. There are some loving moments which break up the song making things interesting, but the song is mostly driven by a lot of power and intensity which we love. And one thing we have noticed so far is no minute is the same. There is so much musical variety on this album.

A dance is definitely in order with Life After Death. This captivating midtempo number has it all: ride cymbals, tumbling drum patterns, and guitar lines that resonate like an anthem across the seven seas. While the band’s fast-paced tracks are always thrilling, this song showcases their ability to craft a strong and dynamic midtempo metal masterpiece. The vocals meld seamlessly with the music, adding emotional depth and intensity, while the bass delivers a rich, driving groove that anchors the track beautifully. This is a true standout that demands to be played on repeat.

Next up we have a song called The Watcher and the intro straight away delivers some twangy bass. The lower sounding main riff comes in out between quick picking rhythm sections and there some interesting play in the instrumentation. It is fast and heavy hitting but not as frantic or as crazy as previous songs. This is proper heavy metal and you certainly feel the heat from this fire.
Prepare to be struck and ‘Die By The Blade’. This head banging belter welcomes you with spicy guitar harmonies that are hot to touch before tearing into some speeding rhythm work. It is clear by this point in the album that Blackslash know how to write killer heavy metal that is interesting and full of surprises and this is another song that is no exception.

The rain and wind sets a nice backdrop for the start of Where Are We Heading To? Clemens shows that his heart is full of emotion and passion when it comes to delivering some great vocal work. The guitars begin to set sail and you drift along with them for a while. Things gradually build up with some tom patterns and lead guitar licks before the rhythms creep in. The full instrumentation comes in and things begin to move along nicely retaining that passion and integrity. A solo pops up and it flows majestically, climbing and scaling. Things are then slowed backed down before we are taken back into a final chorus section.

We reach the end with Maniacs And Madmen and the hi-hat patterns combined with low bass notes and singing harmonies give off the impression that things are going to kick off and that certainly ends up being the case. The speed is back and we are given more tasty licks and more scorching rhythm that has been a joy throughout this album. The track is another winner delivering another pleasing aural experience.

”Heroes, Saints and Fools” is a great album and if your someone who steers more towards the melodic side of things, then you will be in for a treat. It is rammed full of harmonized guitar work, well written tracks and overall the album has great balance between fast and slower songs.
With ”Heroes, Saints & Fools”, Blackslash reaffirms their place at the forefront of modern traditional heavy metal – a must have for any fan of the genre.
Highly Recommended

01 – Heroes, Saints & Fools
02 – Tokyo
03 – Sacrificed
04 – Black Widow
05 – Life After Death
06 – The Watcher
07 – Die By The Blade
08 – Where Are We Heading To?
09 – Maniacs And Madmen

Clemens Haas – Vocals
Christian Haas – Guitar
Daniel Hölderle – Guitar
Alec Trojan – Bass
David Hofmeier – Drums

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