Airstrike – Initial Attack [Remastered+10 bonus] 2019 / 2025 , MP3+FLAC

From the heart of the forgotten U.S. American Midwest comes one of the rarest heavy metal releases of the ‘80s — AIRSTRIKE’s ”Initial Attack”.

Originally pressed in just 100 vinyl copies and 300 cassettes back in 1986, this ultra-limited private release has become a true holy grail for collectors of obscure U.S. Metal, with original copies fetching up to $400 on the secondhand markets.
Formed in Lincoln, Nebraska, Airstrike quickly carved a name for themselves with their explosive live shows and a high-voltage sound that blended razor-sharp riffs, melodic hooks, and anthemic choruses — drawing comparisons to the likes of early DOKKEN, QUIET RIOT, and KEEL. Their only full-length album, ”Initial Attack”, captures the pure essence of American ’80s metal, combining hair metal energy with hard rock swagger and a uniquely Midwestern edge.
Now reissued, remastered, and with the addition of 10 bonus tracks by Lost Realm Records, whether you’re discovering ”Initial Attack” for the first time or revisiting a long-lost favorite, this is your chance to own a piece of heavy metal history — finally restored and made available to the world once again.

Formed in 1985, Airstrike was Gregg Lee (Vocals), Kurt Griffey (Guitars), Andy ‘Lucky Strike’ Melendez (Bass), and John Jet Matthews (Drums). They would spend the next two and a half years touring up and down the Midwest. It was during this time the band began work on the songs that would become their “Initial Attack” 8-track release.
The album itself was a limited release upon its original 1986 pressing, with only 100 vinyl and 300 cassettes being produced.

While a private release, “Initial Attack” has a decent production with the typical mid-Eighties U.S. melodic metal / hard rock sound and style. It’s quite ‘pure’, not with glammy influences into the sound.
Among the best cuts there’s the quite catchy ‘You’ll Get Your Way’, ‘Right Before Your Eyes’, and ‘High Heels Low Deals’, in a style like a mix of Helix and Icon. There’s the obligatory power ballad in ‘She’s Still Going’, however I think these guys were better with the rocking tunes.
To complete the release you have 10 bonus tracks, all demos taped between 1985 – 1988. Quality varies, not only audio / production speaking, but also songwriting. Overall interesting stuff.

Unfortunately, their career ended in Cincinnati, Ohio, after Gregg Lee’s car accident sidelined the band for nine months. During this hiatus, Nick St. Nicholas of STEPPENWOLF offered Lee a role in his project The Wolf, which Lee declined due to injuries. St. Nicholas then recruited other Airstrike members, effectively dissolving the band. Gregg later founded the hard rock outfit Cowboy X.
These connections underline the pedigree of a band that may have been overlooked in their time, but whose music deserves a second life today.

“Initial Attack” has been part of ‘collectors wanted lists’ for decades, that kind of ‘private indies’ so hard to get. Now finally gets released with a bunch of other Airstrike never released songs.
Highly Recommended

01 Initial Attack
02 You’ll Get Your Way
03 High Heels Low Deals
04 Right Before Your Eyes
05 Aimin For The Heart
06 Angel Of Pain
07 Shes Still Going
08 DMZ
09 Aimin For The Heart (Demo)
10 Anytime Love (Demo)
11 Call Of The Wild (Demo)
12 Fairytale Love Affair
13 High Heels Low Deals (Demo)
14 Teaser (Demo)
15 Whatcha Doin’ Tonight (Demo)
16 Angel Of Pain (Live)
17 Aimin’ For The Heart (Live)
18 Livin For The Women (Live)

Gregg Lee – Vocals
Kurt (Krome) Griffey – Guitars
Andy (Lucky Strike) Melendez – Bass
John (Jet) Matthews – Drums

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