SABER – Without Warning [re-release] (2025)

We were so pleased with ‘Lost In Flames’, the second album by LA based classic metallers SABER released a few days ago, that we needed to check out the band’s debut effort “Without Warning“, re-released the same day, now via the band’s new recording label Roar! Records.

Produced by Trevor William Church (Haunt), originally, SABER’s “Without Warning” was originally independly released January 1st, 2021 via Church’s own label. And while the band’s new 2025, second album is very good with their uniquely sleazy take on the NWOBHM sound, this first LP “Without Warning” has its own magic.
Back in the late Seventies / early ’80s, most NWOBHM bands were born independent, I mean, not under the umbrela of record companies and their fancy studios where music could be recorded with a big production. So, their music was embellish by that raw and crude quality we, metalheads, cherish so much. Who are old enough to have lived the 1980’s golden era of Metal might remember the exact time when those bands started to show to the world and, as a consequence, signed huge contracts with the big record companies.
Well, Saber’s first album “Without Warning” sounds like those NWOBHM bands first indie albums: this is raw, in your face, unadulterated traditional classic metal, fresh, with a kick ass attitude to bang your head all over its 30 minutes. Just the way we like it.

If you love your classic metal with that trad sound, Saber is the real deal. The sound, the energy, the compositions, all of them features in “Without Warning” tells you are listening to a band from the ’80s. But no, Saber was founded 2018.
“Storm of Steel” has the pleasure of opening the album with all the killer guitar riffs every Metal song from the Eighties deserves.
The spirit of Old School Heavy Metal is here. Insane guitar riffs with the wondrous voice of vocalist Steven Villa whose voice has a great reach. Guitar duo Joel Dominguez and Antonion Pettinato do everything they learned from the best. That includes lots of melody done in a very competent way mixing the required aggression Metal music needs. We liked very much the tones of the drums of Jesus Delgado. The dude really knows how to be fast with lots of technique. His drumming is one of the things that makes Saber’s music what it is. The precise and prominent bass David Sanchez closes the deal giving the exact heavyness songs need.

As a rising star of this new NWOBHM era of bands, Saber take the lead and teach a lesson on songwriting with the tittle track “Without Warning.” The band knows how to vary its instincts. It’s undeniable “Midnight Rider” has Judas Priest as main inspiration. It’s a track born to be loud as the lyrics say. Again vocalist Steven Villa showcases all his technique and talent. In a glimpse of some kind of deja vu I could somehow hear Runaway’s Cherry Curry singing the chorus.
Ah, Metal music is such a wondrous thing. I’d add a highlight to the guitars on “Strike of the Witch” and “Outlaw” and the choruses.

”Without Warning” offers 8 tracks of heavy metal so precisely excellent and so impossibly fast it’s like they played themselves here straight the ‘80s. Talking riffs like a Delorean. A storm of steel with monstrously good musicianship, catchy melodies and an overall gloriously intact feeling of traditional heavy metal.
If you desire pure ’80s carnage with sincerity and grace, but most importantly, killer songwriting and skillful musicianship, Saber’s “‘Without Warning” is a total ripper.
Highly Recommended

 

1 – Storm Of Steel
2 – Without Warning
3 – Midnight Rider
4 – Strike Of The Witch
5 – Outlaw
6 – Leather Laced Lady
7 – We’ll Meet Again
8 – Speed Racer

Steven Villa – Vocals
Joel Dominguez – Guitar
Antonio Pettinato – Guitar
Jesus – Drums
David Sanchez – Bass

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