heavy-metal-darkness: Blaze | Out Through The Door

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Blaze | Out Through The Door | No Remorse Records

Release Date: 24.10.2025

Formats: CD / LP

Genre: Heavy Metal

Country: Japan

Blaze’s story goes back to the end of the 90s in Osaka, Japan, when guitarist Hisashi Suzuki teamed up with Wataru Shiota, Kenichi Kuwahara, and Tsuneo Shibatani. Their beginnings were humble, playing local shows and releasing a two-song demo, “See The Light”, in 2001. Over the years, Blaze became known to heavy metal collectors for their debut album “Blaze” (2007), an album that echoed the classic energy of bands like Scorpions, Rainbow, and Heavy Load. With time, a few lineup changes, and some long gaps between releases, Blaze has kept a loyal following in the underground scene. Now, nearly two decades later, they return with their long-awaited second full-length, “Out Through The Door”.

“Out Through The Door” runs for about forty-five minutes and continues the band’s devotion to melodic, riff-driven heavy metal with a clear 70s and early 80s heart. There’s only straightforward songwriting with a lot of honest charm. The opening track “1335” gives the first impression of what the album is about; instrumental mid-tempo hard rock energy, and vibrant guitar melodies leading the way.

Blaze’s guitar work remains their most distinctive element. Suzuki’s playing balances warm melodic solos with strong, memorable riffs that keep the songs grounded in the old-school metal spirit. The rhythm section, driven by Kimura and Funabiki, keeps everything steady, giving the songs a tight and energetic backbone. “The Man In White Boots” and “Thrilled To Pieces” have the kind of lively energy that could have been written during the golden age of heavy metal, while “Picture On The Wall” stretches over nine minutes and gives the band space to explore their melodic instincts without losing focus.

Vocally, Wataru Shiota brings a lot of personality. His singing is not much that classic Japanese heavy metal tone but enough emotional, a bit theatrical, and full of life. He knows how to lift a chorus and how to deliver softer moments, as heard in “Someone Special” and “Fort Of Sand”, which balance the album’s harder edges with a more reflective touch.

Production-wise, the sound stays natural and warm, the way an old hard rock album should. The mix keeps the guitars forward without burying the rhythm section, and everything sounds genuine, as if recorded by a band that simply enjoys playing together. The closing “1335 Reprise” ties the album together nicely, bringing a nostalgic end to the journey.

“Out Through The Door” is an album made for listeners who grew up loving classic metal and hard rock melodies. It may not surprise but may to satisfy, and it succeeds at that. Blaze delivers a mature and passionate return that shows their dedication to a style that never fades. It’s the kind of album you put on when you want to remember why heavy metal felt so good in the first place.

Score: 7.8