Saber is an LA-based metal band known for their uniquely sleazy take on the NWOBHM sound. The band took shape organically in 2018 when lead guitarist Joel Dominguez—already collaborating on similar material with rhythm guitarist Jesus Delgado and bassist David Sanchez—received a message from vocalist Steven Villa about starting a new ’80s-inspired project.

A string of thunderous tracks quickly followed, culminating in their 2021 debut album, Without Warning. Produced and released with the help of Trevor William Church (Haunt), who also stepped in on drums, the album was met with widespread acclaim, earning a spot among Bandcamp’s best albums of the year and outranking Exodus and Iron Maiden on BraveWords’ annual Top 30 list.

With Jesus now taking over on drums and the addition of guitarist Antonio “Yogi” Pettinato, Saber channels the spirit of Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, Riot, and Iron Maiden through a fresh, high-energy lens, crafting an electrifying audiovisual experience that continues to captivate their ever-growing fanbase.

Following two years of relentless touring and sharing the stage with legends like Night Demon, Sacred Reich, Haunt, and Screamer at major events like Decibel’s Metal & Beer Fest and the sold-out Hell’s Heroes Fest, Saber has returned with their highly anticipated sophomore album, Lost in Flames, out now. With a fiercer sound than ever, the band is charging forward, ready to set the scene ablaze.

Steven Villa – Vocals

Joel Dominguez – Guitars

Dave Sanchez – Bass

Jesus Decay – Drums

Antonion Pettinato – Guitars

Review

Like a “Phoenix rising” from the fire, Lost in Flames opens up the album in spectacular form with huge glorious chords and shimmering lead notes on top of pounding tom and bass lines. Then right away glistening harmonised lead guitars will grace your ears and in the distance you hear a gentle woah from Steven that feels somewhat ghostly. The music soon takes charge powering forward with lots of energy and feeling. There are moments of descending vocal lines, adrenaline filled lead licks that weave in and out working in synch with the rhythm section magnificently. The spiralling solo is the first glimpse of the amazing skills of Antonion and I can not wait to see what else he has in store on other tracks.

Phoenix Rising will leave you wind swept. If you like it hard, like it fierce and like it fast this one is for you! The rhythm guitars are like a tornado ripping everything up in their path! Buildings falling down things getting thrown up the air! One thing I love about Saber is how they inject little licks into their rhythm guitar work making it interesting and never boring! There is an airy mid tempo break down with calm vocals, tambourine and dreamy guitar ideas before the nuclear explosion of lead riffing takes grip of your ears!Joel and Antonion turn their amps up to 11 and literally make the speakers blow out. The drums and bass of Jesus and Dave are locked in and everything feels so on point! Hell yeah!

Madam Dangerous is out to cause some mischief! Get ready to be whipped into shape with some screeching and mind bending guitar notes melted over stacked rhythm and bass guitars that chug along! I love the drum work of Jesus on this song delivering some some tantalising patterns especially with the 16th note sections on the choruses! The chorus of Madam Dangerous will be sure to get you singing along in no time.There is definitely something a bit sleazy, sexy sounding at times which is a great reflection of the song title! If the guys play this at shows I am sure it is going create some chaos!

Something’s bubbling on the stove—wait, it’s Shattered Dreams! This track simmers with heartbreak, both lyrically and musically. The opening lead work feels like raw emotion spilling from the heart, full of longing and yearning. The vocals take a gentler approach, perfectly complementing the song’s melancholic atmosphere. A beautiful breakdown moment features one panned guitar before the other joins in, setting the stage for Stephen’s vocals to return. But then—boom—the solo ignites once again, electrifying the track. The light background vocals in the outro section add a delicate finishing touch, leaving a lingering sense of bittersweet beauty.

Get ready to stretch those necks, flex those hands, and loosen up—Time Tells All is here to get you fist-pumping and headbanging! It kicks off with thunderous kick drum stomps, layered with slick, sexy guitar riffs that set the stage for pure adrenaline. This is the kind of intro that electrifies a live crowd, sparking synchronised claps and raised fists before the chaos truly begins! Then like a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier its engine fires up, fuel ignites and its shot to speeds beyond the sound barrier! I love the mix of vocal ideas, where Steven gives us his higher register heavy metal magic but then you also have these lower ideas woven into the mix.

Shadow of You pulls us into a dreamlike haze, a vast and barren landscape where thoughts and emotions shape the world around us. This song aches with the weight of heartbreak, its pain woven into every note. It begins softly, a delicate and reflective opening that mirrors its theme before crashing in with raw, hard-hitting emotion. Dave’s bass twangs cut through the mix with a striking presence, while Antonio delivers yet another searing solo—ripping through the track with exhilarating intensity. At this point in the album, the depth of heart and soul poured into the music is undeniable. Every song so far has felt like a chapter in a grand, immersive journey.

Up next is On the Hunt—and this one comes out swinging! Get ready for rapid-fire picking, massive group shouts of “On the Hunt!”, and an energy that refuses to let up. This track is a surefire setlist standout, packing everything you could want—explosive lead/ gang vocals, scorching guitar work, pulsing bass lines, and thunderous drums that hit like a hurricane. It’s high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled, and built to ignite any crowd!

And so we approach Steel Breaker which closes the album! It kicks off with some fast tapping before we get an almighty explosion of lead guitar screams then catapulting us into a barrage of melting heavy metal. This song has a darker tone and I am absolutely loving it! It feels like a demon has stepped out of a portal and is out to reek havoc. Jesus battles the devil off with his brutal drumming. Almost like a fight between heaven and hell! Stephen ups the attitude in his vocal delivery which only adds to Sinister vibes of this number. I honestly can not help but want to headbang and fist pump to this song! Epic!

Conclusion

Saber’s latest slab of metal is an absolute scorcher—one that certainly won’t disappoint! From the moment I heard they were back in the studio, my excitement went through the roof. And if you know Saber, you already know what’s coming: high-pitched, metal mayhem vocals, blistering solos powerful enough to shatter windows, and a rhythm section that’s tight, locked, and fully loaded.

One standout element is the stellar production, courtesy of none other than Trevor Church of Haunt. Not only has he helped the band craft a sonically powerful record, but his influence seeps into the music in all the right ways. At times, you can even catch a hint of Haunt’s signature style—which, honestly, is a huge bonus.

All in all, Saber has seriously stepped up their game and delivered an absolute beast of an album. Well done!

TheNwothm Score: 10/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://saberheavymetal.bandcamp.com

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

Instagram:

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Order LP & Digital Album:

US: https://tinyurl.com/yc59febj

EU: https://tinyurl.com/2f5vh5zf

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