FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

      
   
   
       
       

Rapid Strike

    
       
       
       
     
             
Rapid Strike are a Croatian based melodic heavy rock band formed in 2011 by guitarist Hrvoje Madiraca, releasing their debut album 'God Take Me To Hell' the same year. The band has undergone a radical line-up change, with founder Madiraca the sole remaining original member. The bands new self titled album, featuring former Chemikill, Khaos Theory, and Eventual Fate vocalist Bexie James, was released in 2021...    
             
...and is a myriad of rock and metal styles - from ballads to arena rock to galloping heavy metal and everything in-between. There is something here for every rock and metal fan to enjoy...the album coming to life with the energetic thunder of 'Just A Lie'. Swinging through the metal and rock genres, 'Just A Lie' features pace and tempo changes galore, a highly catchy and addictive opening salvo. Heavying things up somewhat, 'Night Of The Unholy' is a NWOBHM inspired romp, the guitar sound so synonymous with the legendary eighties metal evolution. 'Sweet Terror' maintains the albums heavy metal orientated opening triple salvo, actually becoming a little more aggressive. Yes, aggressive - not like thrash, but that early "heavy metal" scream from Bexie is an iconic Dickinson/Halford scream.    
             
With an acoustic guitar breathing life into 'Sailing On', we find ourselves standing in ballad territory. Time to get your lighters out and hold them high, as soulful vocals create an air of serenity. The change from all out metal to mellow ballad may have been sudden, but after the high energy fizz of the albums opening songs, a breather is most definitely in order. Breather over - and it's back to energetic and bustling heavy metal, with 'Betrayal Is A Sin', and an intimidating vocal rasp that just oozes aggression. That said, there is a melodic streak running through 'Betrayal Is A Sin', just as there has been all album so far. The variation over the albums first half has been incredible, with the second half offering so much more.    
             
'Losing You' is a belter of a ballad - it's got everything you could ever wish for in a lighters in the air, sway from side, highly emotional and passionate meander. Vocals are soulful, the guitars calm, and the feel of emotion rockets sky high. Regular readers will know my stance on ballads appearing on metal albums, but this is a rock album - a heavy rock album that swings both ways, (err, that sounded much better in my head) taking in the soundscapes of both rock and metal. Hitting the ground hard, 'Viper's Nest' adopts a Judas Priest like heavy power stomp. Big bold guitars lead the way as 'Viper's Nest' rumbles on to a finish. The most energising song has been saved 'til last - the last song on the album, the highly rabble rousing call to arms 'Shout It Out'. Featuring guest vocalist Tanja Melanie Hrvat, 'Shout It Out' comes complete with a highly sing a long able, chant style chorus.    
             
Overall, a varied rock and metal journey, infectious and melodic, catchy and memorable - appealing to a very wide audience.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top