STRIKE – Back In Flames (Re-issue)
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 14-12-2012
Originally released in 1981, this Italian band play a brand of old school hard rock/ metal in line with basic hooks and impact at hand. Songs such as "I Want to Rock", "Short Cut to Hell", and "Heavy Metal Army" had a lot in common with Kiss, Twisted Sister, April Wine, and Saxon in terms of riffing, chord structures and a locked and loaded rhythm section built for groove. The re-issue includes their follow up 1985 demo which is a little heavier and faster than "Back In Flames"- along with better vocal harmonies.
Those who live for the old school may enjoy Strike- to me it’s very average in terms of arrangements and the riffing doesn’t stand out much from track to track. Approach cautiously, as now I need to return to "Under The Blade" for a better form of hard rock/ metal entertainment.