STRIKER

STRIKER: Metal Band from Edmonton, Canada
Biography, Discography, and Industrial Evolution

Since their formation in 2007, STRIKER has stood at the forefront of the "New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM)" movement, carving out a unique position by blending the aesthetics of 80s classic heavy metal, hard rock, and hair metal with modern production techniques.

STRIKER's career is not merely a record of musical activity; it also serves as a model of success for independent artists in the 21st-century music industry. Their trajectory—from initial demo production to signing with the German underground label Iron Kodex, moving to the major Austrian metal label Napalm Records, and ultimately establishing their own label, Record Breaking Records, to achieve complete independence—provides an important case study in how modern bands can attain creative and financial autonomy.

2. Biography

2.1 Early Years: Formation and Rise in the Underground Scene (2007-2009)

STRIKER was formed around 2007 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. According to lead vocalist and central figure Dan Cleary, the band's formation was highly organic. As friends who had just graduated from high school, they came together with a shared desire to "start a new band" while their respective local bands were dissolving or going on hiatus. Tim Brown later recalled in an interview that STRIKER gradually "poached" members from other bands, eventually converging into its current lineup.

Early Musical Style and Demo Recordings

In the beginning, STRIKER's sound was raw and aggressive, closer to old-school thrash metal than the polished melodic metal they play today. Their 2008 demo, titled "Demo," garnered attention within the underground metal community. This demo tape resonated with the revival movement of "traditional heavy metal" that was gaining traction in the metal scene at the time, catching the attention of the German label Iron Kodex.

EP "Road Warrior" and Venture into Europe

In 2009, the band released their debut EP, "Road Warrior." This release was enthusiastically received by fans and critics within the NWOTHM scene. Tracks like the title song "Road Warrior" and "Lord of the Sword" were bursting with energy reminiscent of early Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, serving as a crucial opportunity for these youths from a regional Canadian city to establish a foothold in Europe, the global metal market.

2.2 Debut Album and Leap to Napalm Records (2010-2013)

1st Album: "Eyes in the Night"

In 2010, the highly anticipated full-length album "Eyes in the Night" was released. Put out by Iron Kodex and Canada's War on Music, this album packaged the raw impulse of the band with minimal external interference from producers or others. As the track title "Full Speed or No Speed" suggests, it became a work heavily tinged with elements of speed metal. The success of this album led the band to step up their touring activities both domestically and internationally, raising the profile of their live performances.

Signing with Napalm Records and "Armed to the Teeth"

In 2012, STRIKER reached a major turning point in their career by signing a contract with Napalm Records, a world-renowned heavy metal label based in Austria. This deal secured a larger budget and a broader promotional network for the band.

For the production of their second album, "Armed to the Teeth," STRIKER brought in legendary producer Michael Wagener. Wagener is widely known for his work with giants such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Skid Row. The recording took place at WireWorld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Under Wagener's guidance, the band's sound improved dramatically. The punch of the drums, the separation of the guitars, and above all, Dan Cleary's vocal harmonies were refined, successfully capturing an 80s arena-rock sense of scale.

2.3 Deepening of Sound and Stepping Stones to Independence (2014-2015)

3rd Album: "City of Gold" and Fredrik Nordström

In 2014, the band released their third album, "City of Gold." Stepping forward from the 80s approach of their previous work, they teamed up with renowned Swedish producer Fredrik Nordström to pursue a heavier, more modern sonic image. Nordström, a giant in the melodic death metal scene who has worked with bands like At The Gates and In Flames, brought powerful low-ends and razor-sharp riffs to STRIKER's tracks through their collaboration.

Dan Cleary noted that for this album, he envisioned "what it would sound like if Metallica in 1984 recorded using modern technology." Furthermore, immediately following the release of this album, the band landed one of the greatest honors in their history: being selected as the support act for Metallica's two-day sold-out shows at Rexall Place in their hometown of Edmonton.

The Reality of the Music Industry and the Decision to Go Independent

However, behind a career that appeared smooth-sailing, the band was confronting structural issues within the music industry. Guitarist Tim Brown candidly stated in a later interview, "Labels suck." Under their contract with Napalm Records, STRIKER faced a reality where, despite CD sales, the structure left insufficient revenue in the band's hands, and they struggled to secure touring funds. Around the time of "City of Gold," discussions about "Going Independent" began brewing within the band, sprouting a DIY ethos to control their own music and business by themselves.

2.4 Independence and the Establishment of Record Breaking Records (2016-2017)

4th Album: "Stand in the Fire"

In 2016, STRIKER parted ways with Napalm Records and launched their own label, Record Breaking Records. Their first release under the label was their fourth album, "Stand in the Fire." Despite—or perhaps because of—the transition to a self-made structure, this album turned into a work where the band's creativity exploded. As symbolized by the instrumental track "Escape from Shred City," a style that paired technical showmanship with catchy melodies became firmly established.

5th Album: "Striker" and an Award Rush

Following their independence, the band accelerated their release pace. In 2017, just one year after their previous work, they announced their self-titled fifth album, "Striker." Packed with anthems like "Former Glory" and "Born to Lose," this album embodied the band's confident stride.

During this period, the band began achieving remarkable milestones at domestic music awards in Canada. At the 2017 Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA), they won "Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year." Furthermore, they took home "Metal Recording of the Year" at the Edmonton Music Awards, cementing their reputation in their native Canada.

2.5 Pinnacle of Glory: Juno Awards Win and the Pandemic (2018-2021)

6th Album: "Play to Win" and the Juno Win

Released in 2018, their sixth album, "Play to Win," became a milestone in the band's career. Produced with an attitude that literally meant "playing to win," the work achieved massive commercial and critical success. Then, in 2020, at the Juno Awards—Canada's equivalent to the Grammy Awards—they beat out fierce competition to win "Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year." Winning with a release from an independent label was a historic feat that validated the legitimacy of STRIKER's business model.

Activities Under the Pandemic

From 2020 onward, global touring activities were forced into a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet STRIKER never stopped moving. They released a live-in-studio album titled "Alive in the Studio" and strengthened their digital engagement by building a fan community through "Patreon" and streaming on Twitch. They also intermittently released singles like "Deathwish" and "Strange Love," rolling out a flexible release strategy that didn't fixate on the traditional album format.

2.6 Present: "Ultrapower" and Future Outlook (2022-Present)

7th Album: "Ultrapower"

In 2024, the band released their seventh full-length album, "Ultrapower." They brought in Josh Schroeder, known for working with deathcore acts like Lorna Shore, as the producer. As a result, while keeping their 80s-style song structures intact, they achieved a level of sonic clarity and heaviness rivaling modern extreme metal. The humor and over-the-top presentation found in the album artwork and the music video for "BEST of the BEST of the BEST" show that the band has complete mastery over their own identity.

This work was nominated once again for "Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year" at the 2025 Juno Awards, maintaining their status as one of Canada's leading metal bands in the present day.

3. Members

STRIKER has gone through numerous lineup changes over the years, but they continue their activities under the strong leadership of their frontman, Dan Cleary. Described below are the current lineup and historically significant former members.

Current Members

Name (English)	Role	Activity Period	Notes
Dan Cleary	Lead Vocals	2007-Present	Band founder and primary songwriter. Effortlessly commands ranges from high tones to mid-ranges.
Tim Brown	Guitars	2013-Present	Known for his distinctive mullet hairstyle. Also handles the band's management duties and label operations.
John Simon Fallon	Guitars	2017-2022, 2023-Present	Often referred to as an "Actual Scientist" during band introductions. Rejoined the band for "Ultrapower."
Pete Klassen	Bass	2019-Present	Lived in Japan for seven years and possesses a deep knowledge of Japanese culture.
Jono Webster	Drums	2019-Present	Supports the backbone of the band with powerful drumming. His decision to start growing his hair out is sometimes a running joke.

Notable Former Members

• Chris Segger - Guitars (2007-2014, 2017-2022): A vital figure who made up one wing of the band's twin-guitar attack from the early days of formation.
• Adam Brown - Drums (2010-2019): Handled drums over a long period. Famously broke his arm in a bicycle accident during the production of "Play to Win" and could not join the recording (Randy Black filled in as a substitute).
• Dave Arnold - Bass (2007-2013): Handled bass during the early days.
• Ian Sandercock - Guitars (2007-2013): Early guitarist.
• William Wallace - Bass: Participated during the "Stand in the Fire" era.
• Trent Halliwell - Guitars: Participated in the mid-2010s.

4. Discography

STRIKER's discography shows a clear evolutionary path from raw early speed metal to polished melodic metal, and eventually to a mature phase that incorporates elements of AOR and hard rock. Furthermore, STRIKER's works are highly regarded in the Japanese market, and a key characteristic is that almost every release includes Japanese edition bonus tracks. Detailed data for their major works are provided below.

4.1 EP: Road Warrior (2009)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Road Warrior	03:21
2	Lord of the Sword	04:58
3	Fire	03:44
4	Dark Heart of the City	05:55
5	The Keg That Crushed New York	03:59

Commentary: A work retaining strong influences from early thrash metal. STRIKER's cheerful character glimpses through humorous titles like "The Keg That Crushed New York."

4.2 1st Album: Eyes in the Night (2010)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Full Speed or No Speed	03:09
2	Eyes in the Night	04:13
3	We Don't Play by the Rules	03:42
4	Never Ending Nights	04:37
5	The White Knight	03:55
6	The Voice of Rock	04:09
7	Ice Cold	04:54
8	Terrorizer	04:22
9	Believe in Me	05:48
10	Hang On	04:16

4.3 2nd Album: Armed to the Teeth (2012)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Forever	02:54
2	Let It Burn	03:10
3	Lethal Force	04:47
4	It Could Be Worse	04:37
5	Fight for Your Life	04:20
6	Land of the Lost	04:24
7	Wolf Gang	03:26
8	Feed My Fire	04:33
9	All the Way	04:22
10	Can't Stop the Rush	03:34

Japanese Bonus Track:
11. Poisoned Mind - 03:34

4.4 3rd Album: City of Gold (2014)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Underground	03:01
2	City of Gold	04:51
3	Start Again	04:26
4	Bad Decisions	03:58
5	Crossroads	04:23
6	All for One	03:25
7	Mind Control	03:21
8	Second Attack	03:40
9	All I Want	04:18
10	Rise Up	03:28
11	Taken by Time	05:00

Japanese and Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:
The bonus tracks for this album are highly substantial, with versions existing that include the following four songs:
• 12. Two Minutes to Midnight - Iron Maiden cover (06:01)
• 13. Watching You - (03:56)
• 14. Roll With The Punches - (03:58)
• 15. Fuck Volcanoes - Said to be a song lamenting the impact of the Icelandic volcanic eruption on their tour.

4.5 4th Album: Stand in the Fire (2016)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Phoenix Lights	03:38
2	Out for Blood	03:51
3	Too Late	04:52
4	Stand in the Fire	03:39
5	The Iron Never Lies	04:06
6	Escape from Shred City	02:53
7	Outlaw	04:35
8	Locked In	03:45
9	United	04:06
10	Better Times	03:37
11	One Life	04:17

Japanese Bonus Track: Certain Japanese editions may include the following tracks (verification of physical copy required; often omitted from streaming versions). While live recordings or demos are sometimes included as bonus tracks, specific information regarding notable studio-recorded bonus tracks for this album is limited.

4.6 5th Album: Striker (2017)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Former Glory	03:59
2	Pass Me By	03:33
3	Born to Lose	04:02
4	Cheating Death	00:53
5	Shadows in the Light	03:29
6	Rock the Night	04:30
7	Over the Top	04:38
8	Freedom's Call	04:30
9	Curse of the Dead	03:49
10	Desire	05:27

Japanese Bonus Track (Avalon Marquee Edition):
• 11. Heart of a Lion - Cover of an unreleased Judas Priest song (famous via the Racer X cover).

4.7 6th Album: Play to Win (2018)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Heart of Lies	04:04
2	Position of Power	03:40
3	Head First	04:02
4	On the Run	03:51
5	The Front	04:02
6	Play to Win	03:49
7	Standing Alone	04:56
8	Summoner	04:04
9	Heavy Is the Heart	04:54
10	Hands of Time	03:47

Japanese Bonus Tracks (Avalon Marquee Edition MICP-11445):
11. You've Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest Cover.
12. Run for Your Life - Original track.

4.8 7th Album: Ultrapower (2024)

No.	Song Title (English)	Length
1	Circle of Evil	03:44
2	BEST of the BEST of the BEST	03:20
3	Give it All	04:15
4	Blood Magic	04:36
5	Sucks to Suck	03:16
6	Ready for Anything	03:56
7	City Calling	03:45
8	Turn the Lights Out	02:49
9	Thunderdome	04:02
10	Live to Fight Another Day	04:00
11	Brawl at the Pub	03:48

Japanese / Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:
• 12. Deathwish - 04:04
• 13. Strange Love - 03:37
• 14. Take The Money And Run - Steve Miller Band Cover - 02:33

5. Touring Activities and Live Performances

In STRIKER's career, touring activities represent an extremely critical factor. Despite being based in Edmonton—a geographically isolated city located hundreds of kilometers away from other major urban centers—the band has proactively pursued international tours.

Major Co-performing Bands and Tours

STRIKER has shared the stage with prominent bands across various genres, expanding their fanbase in the process.

• Metallica: Served as support for two shows at Rexall Place in Edmonton in 2012.
• Steel Panther: Touring with this comical glam metal band showed great affinity with STRIKER's own 80s-inspired sense of "fun," contributing to the acquisition of a new segment of fans.
• Unleash the Archers: Tour with fellow Canadian power metal band.
• Skull Fist: Co-performing with another Canadian NWOTHM band strengthened the solidarity within this genre.
• Death Angel: Tour with the veteran thrash metal band.
• Dark Tranquillity & Warbringer: Co-performed during their North American tour.

Live Members

Even when players do not participate in album production, many join as touring musicians. For instance, drummer Adam Brown, who could not join the recording of "Play to Win," returned for the tour, demonstrating an extraordinary dedication to live performances.

6. Outlook

STRIKER's journey so far serves as a textbook example of how a modern heavy metal band can survive and thrive. While musically adopting a retro "80s throwback" style, the band implements highly contemporary business strategies, such as "independence from labels," "strengthening D2C," and "utilizing digital platforms."

Their wins and nominations at the Juno Awards prove that STRIKER is an artist representing Canadian music culture. The modernization of their sound through collaboration with a deathcore producer on their latest work, "Ultrapower," suggests that STRIKER will continue to safeguard metal traditions while constantly exploring new sounds.

Delivering "shredding" and "anthems" from Edmonton to the world, STRIKER's journey harbors the potential to transcend the framework of NWOTHM and reach a broader rock audience.