Stryken – Precious Metal Box Set

Description

Precious Metal Box Set is a 3-CD Box Set by the American metal band Stryken, released on Retroactive Records in 2022.

Girder Records Promo

Up to this point, all of STRYKEN’s previously recorded material had been released under the band name STRYKER. This includes their “45 RPM single” in 1980, “four song EP/Demo in 1981” and “Blitzkrieg” album in 1983.

In 1986, they changed their name to STRYKEN, released their “two song single titled ROCK ON/SURPRISE and went on to add bass player Ezekiel Vade. In 1987 they launched their eight song FIRST STRIKE album and were one of the “featured” bands on K-TEL’s “RIGHTEOUS METAL” album with notable bands like Petra, Barren Cross, Bloodgood, and Philadelphia.

STRYKEN – ONCE LOST NOW FOUND includes 14 songs with 7 new releases and 4 NEW SONGS that were “once lost” but “now found.” Never released songs like “A Man,” “Momma,” and the up-tempo, bass guitar centric version of “I Need Your Love” which begins with a killer synthesizer intro. Additionally, 3 “LIVE” audio recordings “now found” enhance the album with one track that covers the band member introductions and the bands message regarding the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. The album closes with “I’ll Be Home,” which Dale Streiker wrote for his daughter when she was very young and recorded as a wedding gift for her. Remastered by Bombworks Sound and a full write up from Doug Van Pelt of Heaven’s Metal Magazine all come together to ensure fans get everything their collector’s hearts desire!

STRYKEN – BLITZKRIEG (ABOUT THE ALBUM)

STRYKEN’s release of this 11 song BLITZKRIEG album, was born from the early STRYKER years. In 1983, as STRYKER, Polygraph Records released this 10 song debut album titled BLITZKRIEG with fellow band members Joey Knight (Drummer) and David Kurowski (Bass Player). The 11th song on this album is from their 1981 4 song EP of “Right of Way” and aptly titled “original version.” The other 10 songs were Produced by STRYKER and recorded at Third Coast Sound in Austin, Texas.

BLITZKRIEG was initially released on cassette tape with plans to release on vinyl however, the vinyl album was NEVER released. Many radio and podcast personalities noted hearing slight influences of bands like Mott The Hoople, Queen, Kansas, ELO and The Cars.

STRYKEN – BLITZKRIEG shows the band’s evolution into more Progressive Rock with songs like “Right Of Way” and “Circus Man” while holding onto their pop/power punk roots with “I’m Alright” and “It’s Over.” This is also the band’s first use of a Bible reference as they put JOB 37 at the end of the part number. The lightning bolt on the cover was inspired by JOB 37 from the Old Testament which speaks to the wonderful power of GOD regarding the weather and says: “He (GOD) unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth” but also talks about GOD’s majesty and glory! Remastered by Bombworks Sound and a full write up from Doug Van Pelt of Heaven’s Metal Magazine all come together to ensure fans get everything their collector’s hearts desire!

ABOUT THE BAND
Often referred to as the “fundamentalists in armor” and playing what it describes as “thunder rock,” Stryken was put together in Arizona in the late seventies by founding members Dale and Steve Streiker initially under the moniker Stryker. After releasing a single and a four song demo, the two proceeded to place a want ad for a drummer, which led them to a talented timekeeper by the name of Joey Knight. A move to Austin came about in late 1982, and by the spring of the following year the band recorded a nine song cassette only release entitled Blitzkrieg that sold very well in the Southwest. By the mid-eighties, however, Stryker started to receive pressure from the Stryper camp about changing its name. Yes, Stryker rhythms with Stryper, but one important thing to keep in mind is that the name Stryker was trademarked by the band after it formed in the late seventies- a time when the boys in yellow and black were more than likely still in junior high school. Needless to say, cooler heads prevailed and the band agreed to make a change by switching the last letter in its name from an “r” to an “n”. Hence, Stryken was officially born. With a permanent name in place and its line up finalized with the addition of bassist Ezekiel Vade, Stryken went through a complete makeover in its image which saw each member of the group don body armor that is symbolic of the Armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:11. Stryken soon formed its own label, Chrystal Records, which it used to release a 12” single that included the tracks “Rock On” and “Surprise” in addition to its 1987 full length debut, appropriately entitled, First Strike (which came out only on cassette and red transparent vinyl).

So, what is the best way to describe “thunder rock”? Well, according to the band, “thunder rock” is a slower, powerful, driving beat, highlighting on guitars and drums. I might describe it as a combination of eighties influenced metal and straightforward hard rock certain to appeal to fans of Stryper, Bloodgood, Saint, Messiah Prophet, Whitecross, Motley Crue and Kiss. First Strike, upon repeated listen, actually proves itself quite the consistent effort in that its tracks, for the most part, are well constructed and hold up under repeated play. The album, for example, delivers its share of anthemic hard rockers (“Crush The Head Of Satan” & “Rock On”), a couple of upbeat melodic metal tracks (“One Way” & “State Of Emergency’), a slower, more driving number (“The Young Men have A Vision”) and a pair of ballads (“The Answer” & “Surprise”). And the band pulls it off without a hitch, which is a credit to the strength of the songwriting here.

3CD tracklist:

Disc One – Once Lost… Now Found

1-01. A Man
1-02. I Need Your Love (Extended Version)
1-03. Rock On (Extended)
1-04. The Answer
1-05. One Way
1-06. Momma
1-07. Stryken Show Intro (Live)
1-08. Crush The Head Of Satan
1-09. Surprise
1-10. The Young Men Have A Vision (Live Intro)
1-11. State Of Emergency
1-12. Riot
1-13. I’ll Be Home
1-14. Stryken Band Intros & Message (Live)

Disc Two – Blitzkrieg

2-01. Right Of Way
2-02. Cross The Line
2-03. Look Away
2-04. Need Your Love
2-05. Circus Man
2-06. Surprise
2-07. Played
2-08. I’m Alright
2-09. It’s Over
2-10. Blitzkrieg (Prelude)
2-11. Right Of Way (Original)

Disc Three – The Early Years

3-01. On The Phone
3-02. As The Rain Goes
3-03. Playing On The Radio
3-04. Need Your Love
3-05. Life Can’t Be The Same
3-06. Right Of Way
3-07. I’m Alright
3-08. It’s Over

Note: Limited to 300 Box Sets.

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