Musical Style: Thunder Rock	Produced By:
Record Label: Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2022	Artist Website:
Tracks: 8 / 11 / 14	Rating: No Quote
Running Time: 28:47 / 41:58 / 55:55

What better way to open a Stryken review than with a history lesson.  Officially pronounced ‘strike-in’ (not stricken) and playing what it refers to as ‘Thunder Rock’, Stryken traces to the late seventies and Arizona where it was put together by founding members Dale and Steve Streiker (each handling lead vocals, guitars and keyboards) under the initial Stryker moniker.  The group got its start in 1980 with a 45 RPM single on BIRC Records - “On The Phone” with “As The Rain Goes” as the B-side - prior to recruiting timekeeper Joey Knight and bassist David Kurowski and moving to Austin, Texas and recording its Polygraph Records full length debut custom cassette Blitzkrieg from 1983.

Despite having trademarked the Stryker name and to avoid any confusion with the burgeoning success of Stryper, Stryker replaced the ‘r’ at the end with a ‘n’ to become Stryken in 1986.  Same year saw Ezekiel Vade supplant Kurowski on bass in addition to each member of the group donning body armor that is symbolic of the Armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:11.  The ‘fundamentalists in armor’ (as Stryken gained renown), proceeded to form its own label Chrystal Records USA in which it released the single “Rock On”/”Surprise” (also 1986) in addition to its appropriately entitled second full-length album First Strike in 1987.

As one might imagine, the previously noted Stryker/Stryken recordings are long out of print and hard to find collectors items.  Enter Retroactive Records, whom in December of 2022 released a compendium of the groups back catalog entitled Precious Metal Box Set consisting of three CD’s:

Stryker - The Early Years

An eight song compilation featuring the “On The Phone”/”As The Rain Goes” single along with six newly released songs of which four have never come out on CD or MP3.  Packaged in a 6-panel slipcase.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg includes the 10 songs from the custom cassette and 1 bonus track.  Packaged in a 6-panel slipcase to include the original ‘lightning bolt’ cover art.

One lost… Now Found

A Gold Disc Edition (jewel case) CD encompassing the nine song First Strike album (with alternate versions to four songs) along with three previously unreleased tracks, extended version to the Blitzkrieg number “I Need Your Love” and two live tracks consisting of a Stryken show intro and band intros with message.

Re-mastering to the three attributes to Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound) and layout and design to Scott Waters (No Life Til Metal Graphics).  Each includes a well-written biographical write-up from Doug Van Pelt (heavensmetalmagazine.com).

I identify with the groups The Early Years material as a joining of punk and new wave with power pop leanings that invites comparison to The Cars, Ramones, New York Dolls, The Knack and The 77s.  No, nothing wrong with that but not my cup of tea either.  That said I listened with an open mind with the intent to be neutral and objective as possible.

Please note that Dale and Stephen Streiker vocally trade off throughout the project with a similar mid-ranged gritty to soulful delivery.  It is difficult to tell the two apart to be honest.

Of the two songs off the debut single, “On The Phone” is an upbeat rocker with a catchy disposition and quirky rhythms to match and “As The Rain Goes” a forward thinking piece with polished vocal melodies and high-energy form.  Whereas neither song is something I might not actively listen to, the guitar work on each is quite good.

In a similar punk/wave vein is “Right Of Way”, blithe in exuding abundant verve and pop hooks in abundance, and “I’m Alright”, of similar animated intent but heavier guitar wise and flowing to layered vocal harmonies.  A bit outside the box is “Playing On The Radio” with its cool funk driven groove and “It’s Over” as most reserved of the lot with elevated bass and plodding tempo.  Any production misgivings can be overlooked in light of how The Early Years material was independently recorded using early eighties technology.

Two songs, however, separate as hidden gems that point to the heavier rocking direction the band would take on subsequent releases.  “Need Your Love” impresses with its straightforward rock demeanor in exuding decisive guitar edges and keyboards with an AOR feel.  “Life Can’t Be The Same” stands out with its coalescing of bluesy guitars and acoustic sentiments to touch upon melodic hard rock.

Blitzkrieg finds Stryken mirroring the musical maturity a band garners with time and experience.  In terms of specifics, I hear an eighties influenced hard rock sound in which the groups press material mentions Queen, Sweet and Kiss as points of reference.  Yet, retained are the earlier pop wave roots in that you will continue to hear hints of The Cars, The Knack and The 77s.   

Four songs from The Early Years appear on Blitzkrieg: “Need Your Love”, “I’m Alright”, “It’s Over” and “Right Of Way”.  I could be mistaken, but when listened alongside, the four in question sound as if the same versions appearing on The Early Years, so no need to comment further.  That said the final Blitzkrieg track is a recording of “Right Away” from the group’s 1981 demo that maintains the same song structure but without the signature keyboards.

Blitzkrieg also includes three songs later re-recorded for First Strike.  “Played” is an alternate version to “State Of Emergency” that features the exact melody and layered ‘whoah-whoah’ backing vocals, while “Blitzkrieg (Prelude)” is a rendition to “First Strike” staying true to the instrumental theme with offbeat sound effects and catchy guitar rhythms.  Finally, “Surprise” is a classy Cheap Trick meets the Beatles ballad joining equal parts melody and commercial leanings.

Highlight to Blitzkrieg are its three unique cuts.  My favorites include “Circus Man”, adorned with heavy keyboards over metal edged guitars to lend an industrial effect (best song ever from Stryken in my opinion) and “Cross The Line”, a bluesy hard rocker accented by periodic cowbell (sort of like early 90’s Bride).  “Look Away” embodies an AOR formula intrinsic to acoustic guitar, catchy refrain and sleek vocal melodies. What the three have in common are pinpointing the vocal maturity to Dale and Stephen Streiker.

Stryken reaches its prime form on the Once Lost… Now Found material in which it unveils its ‘Thunder Rock’ approach.  I identify with ‘Thunder Rock’ as straightforward heavy metal with a melodic essence bringing a bit more muscle than many of the so-called hair and glam metal bands derivative of the time.  One reviewer comparing the group to Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister had the right idea.

One Lost… Now Found encompasses 14 songs of which three have not seen previous release.   First, “A Man” is a catchy melodic hard rocker with a seventies classic rock flair, and second, “Momma” a gentle piano based semi-ballad accented by drifting keyboards and bluesy soloing.  Final “I’ll Be Home” mirrors a pop basis with AOR tinctures to highlight Dale Streiker’s heartfelt vocals.  Of note is how he wrote it for his daughter when she was young and later recorded it as a wedding gift to her. 

Of the unique material, the extended version to “I Need Your Love” is, well, not when noting how it is ten seconds shorter than its The Early Years and Blitzkrieg counterparts.  To be completely flair, it separates with a keyboard solo opening and elevated bass mix.  Likewise, driving metal anthem “Rock On (Extended)” is carried out an extra twenty seconds with an open-air guitar intro, while the ‘live intro’ to melodic showstopper “The Young Men Have A Vision” cites Joel 2:28.  “Stryken Show Intro (Live)” and “Stryken Band Intros & Message (Live)” are self-explanatory.

Six re-mastered tracks remain from First Strike.  “Crush The Head Of Satan” is another Stryken style metal anthem (I identify with it as the groups signature song) and “Riot” a slow and driving five minutes of bludgeoning metal (ranking with the First Strike heaviest).  On the more melodic side, “One Way” is a catchy eighties style hard rock piece and “The Answer” a pristine ballad interwoven with acoustic guitar and feedback.  “State Of Emergency” and “Surprise” were discussed previously.

Summary

A great deal of hype surrounded Stryken ahead of the release to First Strike: carrying a large cross to Motley Crue concerts in Austin and San Antonio or taking out a full-page ad in Metal Edge Magazine with the headline ‘God Damned Satan’.  To Stryken’s credit, it beat Stryper to the punch by thirty years with a play on words not unlike that of 2018 release God Damn Evil.  Perhaps due to unfairly inflated expectations, or the fact Stryken was not on the same level as certain contemporaries, but critical commentary at the time was less than flattering, particulars that remain to this day.  That said, fans exists such as your truly that recognize Stryken as a capable band that penned some halfway decent material but was held back by production misgivings.  My final take on Stryken is unfulfilled potential in that a two-album career is not enough time for the group to hit its musical stride- sign Stryken to Pure Metal Records or Intense and extend its discography another couple albums and it would be seen in a more positive light.

If interested in a detailed musical history to Stryken, you can do no wrong with the Precious Metal Box set.  Colwell re-mastering, of course, tightens up many of those as noted production misgivings, while packaging proves equally laudable in light of insightful liner notes with band biography and vintage band photos. Give credit to Retroactive Records for its efforts behind such a long overdue and welcomed release.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

The Early Years track listing: “On The Phone” (2:50), “As The Rain Goes” (2:48), “Playing On The Radio” (3:04), “Need Your Love” (3:57), “Life Can’t Be The Same” (4:20), “Right Of Way” (3:38), “I’m Alright” (3:41), “It’s Over” (4:29)

Musicians
Dale Streiker - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar & Keyboards
Stephen Streiker - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar & Keyboards
David Kurowski - Bass
Joey Knight - Drums & Keyboards

Blitzkrieg track listing: “Right Of Way” (3:41), “Cross The Line” (4:25), “Look Away” (2:32), “Need Your Love” (3:56), “Circus Man” (4:52), “Surprise” (5:51), “Played” (2:19), “I’m Alright” (3:41), “It’s Over” (4:29), “Blitzkrieg (Prelude)” (2:30), “Right Of Way (Original)” (3:40)

Musicians
Dale Streiker - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar & Keyboards
Stephen Streiker - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar & Keyboards
David Kurowski - Bass
Joey Knight - Drums & Keyboards

Once Lost… Now Found track listing: “A Man” (4:30), “I Need Your Love (Extended) (3:47), “Rock On (Extended)” (3:39),
“The Answer” (5:03), “One Way” (2:39), “Momma” (4:25), “Stryken Show Intro (Live)” (2:40), “Crush The Head Of Satan” (3:12), “Surprise” (5:51), “The Young Men Have A Vision (Live Intro)” (5:00), “State Of Emergency” (2:13), “Riot” (5:03), “I’ll Be Home” (3:28), “Stryken Band Intros & Message (Live)” (4:27)

Musicians
Dale Streiker - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar & Keyboards
Stephen Streiker - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar & Keyboards
Ezekiel Vade - Bass
Joey Knight - Drums & Keyboards