Hailing from Germany’s Black Forest, Blackslash is a band devoted to carrying the torch of traditional heavy metal. Formed in 2007 by bassist Alec Trojan and his crew of five, they’ve become a driving force in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM), earning their stripes on stages across Germany and 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, and Riot, Blackslash strikes a balance between the gritty authenticity of British working-class rock and the grandiose showmanship of American metal giants. Their debut release, the Blackslash EP (2011), left no doubt about their raw and uncompromising sound, resonating with metalheads and misfits in Germany’s southern heartland.

With a growing fanbase and a string of critically acclaimed albums—Sinister Lightning, Lightning Strikes Again, and No Steel No Future—Blackslash cemented their reputation as one of Germany’s most dynamic heavy metal acts.

Now, three years after their last release, Blackslash is back with their highly anticipated new album, Heroes, Saints & Fools. Available on CD, vinyl (in various editions), and all major streaming platforms, the album delivers nine pure heavy metal anthems ranging from powerful, soaring hymns to high-energy headbangers.

Fans can already dive into three singles ahead of the full album’s release: the title track “No Steel No Future,” the electrifying “The Watcher,” and their tribute to Japan’s wildest city, “東京 (Tokyo).” All tracks are streaming now on Spotify and other platforms.

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.

Review

Heroes, Saints & Fools starts things off in melodic fashion with gleaming riffs and a voice that strangely reminds me of the voice from Megadeth’s “Shadow of Deth”. 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. To me this song makes me think it has taken influence from so many different things, from Iron Maiden, to Japanese anime/manga to name a couple. It is full of texture and electrifying ideas that make Tokyo one kickass song!

Sacrificed enters with a mid tempo punishing 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. I love Blackslashe’s use of harmonised guitar work and they know how to do it well both in the rhythm and lead the department. The skipping bass and drum patterns feel edgy and are not your typical patterns but they work really well! But… my favourite section has got to be from about 2.40 in where you guitar some magical guitar harmonies that shine in the sun. The chorus takes out showing us that Sacrificed despite being short is certainly sweet!

Black Widow comes in ripping and roaring and damn i 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 I love. And one thing I have noticed so far is no minute is the same. There is so much musical variety that I have not found myself getting bored. I can imagine these guys putting on a cracking show with a lot of people singing along! The solo cuts the mix in half and It soars and sings reaching the skies above! After having my first run through, I have to say it thourougly enjoyed it!

A dance is definitely in order with Life After Death! This captivating mid-tempo number has it all: skipping 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 mid-tempo 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. It is one of those fast sing along songs I would say. There is an excellent mid tempo section where hi hat patterns and a tasty harmony lead the way before you are hit by some magical lead guitar excellence in terms of the solo section! 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! Pounding drum patterns combined with driving bass line provide a string backbone to guitar and vocal work that is fully charged! The moments of Maiden-esque semi acoustic parts only give this track that bit of extra sparkle.

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 16th note 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 scorcher delivering another pleasing aural experience!

Conclusion

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 harmonised guitar work, well written tracks and overall the album has great balance between fast and slower songs. Considering I have not really listened to the band before, I have been left with a big smile on my face and will certainly go away and check out what else they have to offer!

TheNwothm Score: 8/10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackslashband

Bandcamp: https://tinyurl.com/ydnd4rw3