NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – February 12, 2024
STRIKER’s “ULTRAPOWER” Nominated For JUNO Award for Metal / Hard Music Album of The Year
EU Tour w/ Unleash The Archers, Seven Kingdoms
Seventh Studio Album “ULTRAPOWER” Out Now!
Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810)
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Clockwise – L-R – Dan Cleary – Vocals, John Simon Fallon – Guitar, Pete Klassen – Bass, Tim Brown – Guitar
Photo Credit: Dana Zuk
Edmonton, AB heavy metal masters STRIKER have been nominated for their third Juno Award for “Metal/Hard Music Album of The Year” for their 2024 album “ULTRAPOWER” released via their indie label Record Breaking Records.
“Honoured to be among the best of the best of the best along with our fellow JUNO nominees this year for our 3rd consecutive nomination! This means a lot to us, we always give it all and are ready for anything. Tough competition this year, it’s a brawl at the pub, but no matter what, we will live to fight another day.” adds the band.
STRIKER have been nominated alongside Anciients, Devin Townsend, Kittie and Spiritbox.
2025 – JUNO Awards – METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR / ALBUM DE MUSIQUE MÉTAL/HARD DE L’ANNÉE
Anciients – Beyond the Reach of the Sun – Season of Mist / The Orchard
Devbin Townsend – PowerNerd – InsideOut Music / Sony
Kittie – Fire – Sumerian / Virgin
Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear – BMG / Universal
Striker – ULTRAPOWER – Independent
Full list of 2025 Nominees and Categories can be found at https://junoawards.ca/2025-juno-awards-nominees/
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STRIKER’s latest album “ULTRAPOWER” was produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810). The seventh full-length from STRIKER follows their Juno Award-winning self-released record “Play to Win” (2018) unleashed on their label Record Breaking Records.
With the band writing material since 2018, “ULTRAPOWER” is a collection of Striker tinkering and exploring new avenues. From the album’s opening track “Circle of Evil”, a Malmsteen-esque metal banger about secret societies and the evil dealings behind closed doors to their previously released single “BEST of the BEST of the BEST” serving up some big riffs and hockey arena vocals to “Blood Magic”, which might be one of Striker‘s most progressive songs, taking cues from bands like King Diamond, with its unconventional structure and punctuated guitar solos. From the band delving into their obsession for late 80s AOR and pop rock with “City Calling”, an ode to 1987, and bands like Toto and Kenny Loggins with their hook-powered albums. To fans experiencing the band’s first attempt at a synth-wave track with “Live To Fight Another Day”, this new offering sees Striker making a shredding love letter to the hard-rocking era of guilty pleasures.
“ULTRAPOWER” was released on February 2nd, 2024, and is available at https://www.striker-metal.com/shop/ (CD, Vinyl, Digital)
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3SnIshu
In additional news, STRIKER is kicking off their EU tour with Unleash The Archers and Seven Kingdoms (dates listed below).
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EU Tour 2025 – Unleash The Archers, Striker, Seven Kingdoms
Tickets: https://linktr.ee/UnleashTheArchersTour2025
12.02 (DE) KARLSRUHE @ Substage
13.02 (DE) ASCHAFFENBURG @ Colos-Saal
14.02 (DE) COLOGNE @ Live Music Hall
15.02 (BE) KORTRIJK @ De Kreun
16.02 (GB) LONDON @ The Underworld
17.02 (FR) PARIS @ La Machine
19.02 (CH) ZURICH @ Dynamo
20.02 (IT) MILAN @ Legend Club
21.02 (DE) MUNICH @ Backstage Halle
22.02 (CZ) ZLIN @ Masters of Rock Cafe
23.02 (HU) BUDAPEST @ Barba Negra
25.02 (AT) VIENNA @ Szene
26.02 (PL) CRACOW @ Kwadrat
27.02 (DE) LEIPZIG @ Hellraiser
28.02 (LU) ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE @ Rockhal
01.03 (DE) HAMBURG @ Kronensaal
02.03 (NL) HAARLEM @ Patronaat
More info: Striker-metal.com
About: Blending classic heavy metal, hard rock, and 80’s hair metal, Striker has been making shredtacular anthems since 2007. The band has toured multiple times across Europe and North America along with festival appearances at 70,000 Tons of Metal, Bang Your Head Festival (Germany), and more to add to the almost 1000 shows performed in their decade-plus career. The band has been honoured with multiple Best Album awards in their home country of Canada from the JUNO Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and the Edmonton Music Awards. Since their inception, Striker has released seven studio albums Eyes in the Night (2010, Iron Kodex), Armed to The Teeth (2012, Napalm), City of Gold (2014, Napalm), Stand in the Fire (2016, Record Breaking), Striker (2017, Record Breaking), Play to Win (2018, Record Breaking), Ultrapower (2024, Record Breaking).
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“If you liked the last three albums (as much as I did), Ultrapower will equally satisfy. I know this one will be in my top 10 albums of the year. 8.5/10″ – Bravewords
“All in all, Striker’s Ultrapower may be their finest album to date. Their traditional, “keep it true,” heavy metal has never been more fresh, creative, and versatile, and so also, breathing new life into this classic genre. Easily recommended. 5/5″ – Dangerdog Music Reviews
““Ultrapower” is quite frankly a magnificent album. It has a feel good 80’s movie soundtrack aura about it with the spirit of artists such as John Farnham and Stan Bush standing tall alongside pure 80’s metal throwback. If you love 80’s rock and metal then this album is going to have you grinning from ear to ear. I think I’m gonna be grinning for days after several listens. Some fans of Striker’s more speed metal inclined sound may find this album a bit jarring but I can safely say it is the best album they have done and they have released some corkers. For the pure joy it has given me, this album is going to be hard to top in 2024 and we are still in the early part of the year.” – The Razor’s Edge
“Striker are more-than-ready to show us all the power of heavy music with Ultrapower, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride with one of the best (of the best of the best) bands of the current Canadian landscape.” The Headbanging Moose
“an album that is bold, daring and as mentioned shows a band that are not afraid of fusing styles of music together… there are simply to many high quality songs on this album that simply blows me away. This is a polished, highly refined album with top quality production! 9/10” – The NWOTHM
“I really like the diversity in this album. 4/5” – KNAC
“I’m giving this one an 8 of 10 “Flaming Fists”. You can tell there’s a lot of work put into the album, they don’t half-ass anything. The production was good, it’s really hard to make amazing Arena-style rock without a decent budget, but they did a solid job…. if you liked the late 80’s and early 90’s bands you’ll really dig this. Overall, I’m really happy and thankful for this band continuing to do what they do.” – Rock Rage Radio
“The heavy, power, and traditional melodic metal landscape is in great shape thanks to bands like Striker producing high quality songwriting year after year. These Canadians continue to explore horizons while still maintaining the endearing qualities that helped put them on the map in the first place since the late 2000’s. Ultrapower is the seventh full-length studio record, and probably their most varied attack to date – incorporating everything from speed/thrash to AOR and old Wild West vibes. ” – Dead Rhetoric
“Striker’s execution and sense of humor makes for an enjoyable ride.” – Heavy Music HQ
“How do you say when bowling when you clear all the pins with a throw? It is a strike! STRIKER has achieved a great strike with their album „ Ultrapower “. All songs on this album are real hits! Each song has its own character and rocks what it takes. It is a wonderful homage to the 80 ’ years. I would say: The STRIKER engine is in full swing!” – Metal-Heads.de
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