Striker - Stand in the Fire

This is one of those bands that caught me by surprise. I had never heard of them before acquiring a copy of their 2014 release City of Gold - and I was blown away. Anyone who knows me or has read many of my previous reviews, knows that I have a love for the 80's commercial metal scene. I was not a huge fan of the 90's, nor of very much mainstream hard music since then. People asked me what I listened during the 90's and 2000's since 80's commercial metal was "dead," and I always point to the large growing scene of commercial metal over seas and in the underground. I was more than busy during the past few decades with excellent material. Well, it is still growing, and bands like Striker are proof. 

I love discovering amazing bands like Striker - and come to find out there have a few other previous releases (2012's Armed to the Teeth and Eyes in the Night). It is like finding a gold mine with enough gold to keep me busy for a while. Now do not get me wrong, this is not the glam, poppish sound metal some think of when mentioning the 80's - this is balls to the wall fast riffing powerful metal with a big vocal anthem feel at times. As their own site says:

Striker is an Edmonton-based recording and performing heavy metal band that has grown immensely through their years in the industry. A classic mix of heavy metal, hard rock, and 80’s hair metal, their music features powerful, clean vocals, catchy choruses, vocal harmonies, and impressive guitar leads. Audiences are often floored by the energy of their live show, and their recorded material has been met with fantastic response by both fans and industry across the world.