I think it's a great step forward! We set out to make a fast paced album with a modern heavy production without sacrificing the sound that has become STRIKER. I think Fredrik Nordstrom did an amazing job capturing exactly what we wanted.

I suppose I answered some of this in my first answer, whoops! I wouldn't say it was easier or harder, we recorded it in half the time that we recorded "Armed to the Teeth" so we were a lot busier during the studio time. The inspiration just comes from living life!

It's a little bit of everything, a song like "Underground" is inspired by a love of heavy metal and positive thinking, Bad decisions is about well...drinking way too much and making really bad decisions haha. Every song is a little bit different, but the lyrics aren't forced; they're inspired by the things around us.

Yeah totally!  Last year we did a bunch of Maiden tribute shows playing "Live after Death" in it's entirety, Adam is drumming in a hilarious 80's tribute band, Dan and Bill have a comedy rock project called "Max Alligator" and Tim plays in a METALLICA/MEGADETH tribute band!

My entire family are musicians, actually!  My parents are university music professors who also tour the world playing Piano and Organ.  My brother is a jazz drummer and his wife a jazz musician as well!  So for me I didn't really know there was another option haha.

Adrian Smith has always been number 1, he's not the most flashy but every note he plays is perfect!  I love many different guitar players but he has had the most influence over my sound.  Lot's of Paul Gilbert influences as well.

Formal lessons until I was able to escape!  Then mostly self-taught.  I actually went to college for 2 years in a music program but I should have worked harder and spent most of my time partying.  I learned more about playing guitar from Michael Wagener in 10 minutes than from anyone else in my life.

I'd rather have a small club packed to the walls than a big venue half full!  That being said we like to put on a show and the bigger the stage the more room we have to run around.  So it's a bit of a toss up between the two.  Something in the middle, more like luke warm water..

To have a good fucking time and to smile! We do this because it makes us happy and it shows through our energy, we want you to be happy too!

I think there's a lot to be said for both sides. There were a lot of assholes involved in the record industry and it's nice in some ways to see that side of it go away (not that there are not still some assholes!). But we are also broke and many thousands of dollars in debt because of the band so it would be nice to make some more money on album sales! There's the add about people spending $5 a day on a fancy coffee from Starbucks that lasts for 10 minutes who are unwilling to spend $1.00 for a song that will last a life time. I believe there is some truth to that. We work full time jobs to subsidize the music we make and we do it because we love it. But I don't know, I could probably do an entire interview on this one alone haha

Tour Tour Tour!! Then write and record before doing it all over again!

Oh man, I'm the worst person in the band for this question. I haven't owned a gaming system since Nintendo 64 came out and I only played like 2 games. The guys had to try to teach me how to use the X-Box at the studio in Sweden and I didn't have the patience. I learned how to use it well enough to operate Netflix haha. I remember playing Zelda a Link to the past a ton in my early childhood so let's go with that one for a soundtrack!

Thank you man!  Really looking forward to seeing you all on the road, hope you like the new record!