At first hearing, this writer was thinking with himself "not again an old school Metal clone", but when researching information, I saw that FIRSTRIKE was an old band Metal band from U.S.A., that was formed in 1990, released two demo tapes and disappeared in history, and never really released an album. But Divebomb Records recovered their original material, and released their two demos in one album, "Deadly Voltage".

If you hear it now, to some can sound "out-of-date" and full of mold, but this is the very essence of North American Metal between the end of 80's and the start of 90's, an aggressive, melodic and technique music, with good vocals that sometimes reminds us Dirk Schröder (from German IRON ANGEL) style with some high pitches in the vein of Nasty Ronnie (from NASTY SAVAGE), wonderful guitar riffs and solos (technical, melodic and heavy at the same time), and good bass-drums rhythmic basis. It could remind us all from something done by RACER X and CHAINSTAIN, but not as guitar-orientated-Metal as them. Nothing new even in that time, but very good the same way.

The sound is just what we could expect from an independent Metal band from the end of the 80's, but it's not bad, for you can hear all the instruments separated, clearly and the right weight. The cover... Well, it reflects that times' tendencies. Again, I must say that the band never meant to do something new, but their music pulses with life and energy, and it's very good.

The greater moments: "Hell's Kitchen" (with its complex guitar riffs, and a not so fast tempo), the elaborated and with some Hard Rock influences "No Life Sentence" (hear the fine work from bass and drums), the slower and kicking "Terminal Injustice", and the powerful "Incantations" (what a good vocal work!). And final four tracks are bonus, coming from "Agony Pit" demo tape, having fine moment in "Free Rider" and "Hellbound". The most curious thing about these four tracks is that the singer is Fabbian, for Mike entered the band after the demo's release.

It's a fine work, and if the band is thinking in returning to the front, they really will be welcome.