Striker (band)

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Striker
OriginEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
GenresHeavy metal
Speed metal
Years active2007–present
LabelsIron Kodex
MembersIan Sandercock
Dan Cleary
Chris Segger
Dave Arnold
Adam Brown
Past membersTyson Travnik
Dave Grafton
Magnus Burdeniuk
Website[1]

Striker is a heavy metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Biography

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Striker is one of several metal bands recently formed in Alberta as part of the growth in interest in heavy metal music in the province. Other Alberta metal bands include Six Guns Over Tombstone, Order of Chaos, Kobra and the Lotus , Minax, Hrom, and Sacred Ally.

Originally formed in January 2007 by Ian Sandercock and Dan Cleary, Striker did not have a full line up until the summer of 2007. After a number of local shows a four song demo was recorded. The demo was circulated in Germany when some of the band members and other Edmonton metal fans travelled to Europe in the summer of 2008 to attend the Wacken[1] heavy metal festival in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Three German labels offered to sign the band and in the fall of 2008 Striker signed with Iron Kodex[2], an independent German label. Some members of the band had met the label at a chance-meeting at Magic Circle Festival[3] 2008 in Bad Arolsen / Germany.

That fall the band underwent a line up change to its current configuration with a new drummer (Magnus Burdeniuk) and bass player (Dave Arnold) plus members of the original band, Ian Sandercock, Dan Cleary, and Chris Segger.

In the spring of 2009 the band produced an EP called Road Warrior. It was released by Iron Kodex in a limited edition vinyl run with a bonus track. The EP sold out promptly with sales largely in Europe. The band also released a CD version of the EP without the bonus track.

In addition to local shows in Alberta during the spring and summer of 2009 in support of Road Warrior the band opened for Cauldron on the launch of its North American tour, playing Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, and Ottawa. In September 2009 Striker played the first annual Canadian metal festival, Harvesting Hell[4], an event launched at the Starlite Room[5] and New City Suburbs[6] in Edmonton.

Reviews

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Road Warrior garnered positive reviews in both the English, German, and other European language metal media.[7] Several interviews with the band about the album release appeared in print and on radio.[8]

Striker's style of music in Road Warrior has been compared with '80s cult bands such as Agent Steel, Jag Panzer, Raven, and Exciter.[9] The band claims to have been influenced by Saxon, Iron Maiden, Racer X, King Diamond, Vicious Rumors, Helloween, Crimson Glory, Judas Priest, Annihilator, Exciter, and Scorpions.

Current Work

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The band completed a full length album, a 10 song LP released by Iron Kodex, in early 2010. Striker was billed to play the Keep It True XIII festival in April 2010[10] and the Pounding Metal festival in Madrid, at the same time touring Europe in support of the new album. However, the volcano in Iceland forced the cancellation of the tour due to flight cancellations.

Striker toured Canada in June 2010 playing shows in cities from Victoria, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The band underwent a lineup change in advance of the tour with Adam Brown joining as drummer.

Band members

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Current members

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  • Ian Sandercock – guitar (2007–present)
  • Dan Cleary – vocals (2007–present)
  • Chris Segger – guitar (2007–present)
  • Dave Arnold – bass (2008–present)
  • Adam Brown – drums (2010–present)

Former members

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  • Tyson Travnik – drums (2007-2008)
  • Dave Grafton – bass (2007-2008)
  • Magnus Burdeniuk – drums (2008–2010)

Discography

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  • Road Warrior EP (2008) – Recorded in Edmonton and released by Iron Kodex in a limited edition vinyl gatefold featuring 5 tracks plus a cover bonus track. The album was also released separately by Striker in CD format without the bonus track.
  • Keep It True: The Underground Kodex Vol. 1 LP (2009) – Released by Iron Kodex in a limited edition vinyl gatefold featuring 10 tracks by bands (in order) Striker (White Knight from Striker's upcoming 2010 album), Rezet, Battle Ram, Midnight Priest, Sign of the Jackal, Dark Forest, Hitman, Asomvel, Tracer, and Hürlement.
  • Eyes in the Night LP (2010) – Released by Iron Kodex. Produced by Striker. Mixed by Cam MacLeod of White Wolf.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Striker (Band)}} [[Category:Musical groups established in 2007]] [[Category:2000s music groups]] [[Category:Canadian heavy metal musical groups]]