I first ran across Blade's Edge on the Cursed Blade split from 2022 that also featured Curse Breaker (both bands are helmed by guitarist Sage Savage). The Fate's Key is Blade's Edge's debut album and is full of '80s-inspired hard rocking heavy metal. Savage handles the vocals and all instruments, and his high-singing register, with a bit of grit around the edges, and flashy guitar work are sure to bring listeners back in time to the golden age of heavy metal. The songwriting follows well-established patterns for metal tunes, down to the acoustic intro of "Rebirth in Sorrow," which would have fit right in on a Cinderella or Slaughter (US) record. That's about as close to glam as Blade's Edge get with the rest of the music, not far removed from guitar-centric bands like Keel and Dokken and more recent acts like Sin Starlett and Crystal Viper. The Fate's Key isn't breaking ground, but it is good fun if you're looking for melodic, upbeat heavy metal with no agenda beyond high octane rocking out.
