FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

       
   
   
       
       

Strike Hard

    
       
       
       
     
             
Airforce are a heavy metal band from the UK, formed in 1987 by Chop Pitman (guitars) and Tony Hatton (bass). Joined by former Iron Maiden drummer Doug Sampson, the band gigged for many years with various vocalists, before eventually disbanding. A compilation album 'Judgement Day', was released in 2016, with former members Tony Hatton and Doug Sampson meeting up with Chop at the launch party - and Airforce was reborn! Adding Bulgarian singer Dilian Arnaudov, the band released two E.P.'s in 2018 - 'The Black Box Recordings' volumes 1 and 2. In 2019, Portuguese singer Flavio Lino joined the band, and Airforce released their debut studio album 'Strike Hard', in 2020.    
             
Thirty three years since formation, British heavy metallers Airforce, release their debut, full length album 'Strike Hard' - and strike hard it certainly does! Loaded with every NWOBHM nuance you can screech, scream or holler, Airforce deliver a blend of traditional heavy metal, that will have the eighties loving metal heads wetting themselves with sheer excitement... 'Cause for nigh on one hour, Chop, Tony, Doug, Flavio, and a guest appearance by former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'anno (providing additional vocals), deliver eleven songs that will transport you back to the glorious eighties. So raise your fists up high, and get ready for a NWOBHM roller coaster...    
             
...as the album launches skywards with the "straight out o' the eighties" traditional heavy metal swagger of 'Fight'. The buzzing guitars resonate with the NWOBHM sound, with the pace, tempo and feel of 'Fight' definitely British. Airforce are flying the flag for British heavy metal very high, and very proud. Big riffing and booming, 'Die For You' is mid tempo, anthemic metal at its finest. Take a back seat Manowar, Sabaton and Powerwolf - Airforce are here to take your crowns. And oh that guitar sound can only be British born - as 'Son Of The Damned' marches forth. It's like listening to the best of British heavy metal, your Maiden's, Priest's and Saxon's, but all rolled into just the one band: Airforce. Upping the tempo and energy levels, 'The Reaper' places one foot on the monitor, the classic style and imagery of heavy metal standing out big time. Just one third the way through the album, and I feel like standing to attention and saluting the band, for this is metal from my home country - the UK.    
             
And for the first time, the album picks up the pace, with 'Finest Hour' flying like a jet fighter off to war...full of purpose and intent. 'Finest Hour' will have the masses head banging furiously and punching the air in delight at one of the best songs on the album. Thundering like a steam train in full flight, 'Don't Look In Her Eyes' is all hustle and bustle, ground shuddering and wall crumbling, as it majestically strides on, with guest singer Paul Di'anno. I really can't praise Airforce enough - this is a cracking album of exactly my type of heavy metal, hitting the sweet spot many times... 'I Feel Your Pain' takes on a more melodic feel than anything heard on the album so far. A gentler rhythm slides in under the radar, making 'I Feel Your Pain' appeal to fans of the hard rock style, you know, the heavier style of hard rock. Everything about 'Strike Hard' is just right, making it one of those albums you just wanna listen to time and time again. Taking the album in a more menacing and slightly darker direction, is the pulsating 'Wargames', yet it doesn't lose any of the albums core NWOBHM roots. There has been so much great metal released this year, that Album Of The Year is gonna be one helluva job to judge, but Airforce will be up there, battling hard with all the other contenders.    
             
The heavy hitting, slower tempo of heavy metal comes to life in the mighty shape of 'Band Of Brothers'. Marching majestically, 'Band Of Brothers' has an anthemic, rise up and be counted feel to it, and deserves to mentioned in the same breath as Maiden's 'Blood Brothers' and Manowar's 'Brothers Of Metal'. And here comes that guitar sound again, you all know the one - the one that signifies and defines the NWOBHM sound... 'The War Inside' buzzes its way into sight, and marches on with an infectious foot stomping rhythm. And I can't believe it's the final song coming over the horizon - where has the last fifty minutes gone? But as I always say, when you lose track of time listening to an album, it's a sign of a great one, and that's exactly what 'Strike Hard' is - a great album. So, here it is, the final song, 'Faith Healer', and hang on a minute - it sounds a little familiar... Oh yea, I remember, 'Faith Healer' appears on Paul Di'anno's 1994 Killers album 'Menace To Society', and of course Paul has been a special guest on 'Strike Hard'. And all you music buffs out there - yes I know these are covers of the original 'The Faith Healer' by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band from their 1973 album 'Next'. 'Strike Hard' is one of the best British exports this year, well, for many a year actually!    
             
Overall, traditional heavy metal with a strong flavour of the NWOBHM sound, 'Strike Hard' is superb.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top