HYPERSTRIKE hailing from Seattle, Washington were formed in 2024. They are a Power Metal band and release their debut album. "High Risk" has a length of about 35 minutes, and it is an independent release. The album starts with "Meltdown" and it is a fast start. The guitar riffing is powerful but also playful and accompanied by a lot of lead guitar contributions. The vocals vary around the medium end of the vocal range with many tonal shifts in either direction. The vocals follow the melodies most often. There is a bit of double-bass drumming included during the chorus part. The melodies are catchy but not overly anthemic or epic as with many other Power Metal tracks. The break maintains the fast tempo and at the heart of the break is a very contributing lead guitar solo. Overall, "Meltdown" is a good opening track. "Leaving You Again" sounds melodically a bit darker than the opener. It is a mid-tempo track with direct and partially tight guitar riffing. There are many Groove vibes present in particular during the verse parts and during the break. The choruses have dark but catchy melodies with a slight touch of melancholy. The title track provides a bit of a contrast to "Leaving You Again". It is a fast and dynamic track with direct and aggressive guitar riffs at the beginning. The riffing becomes more playful as the track goes on and it is supported by strong basslines and a lot of double-bass drumming. The track is overly hectic during the middle part including the break and one could get the impression; the lead guitars are doing their own thing. "High Risk" was uploaded by the band on YouTube, and the link is provided below.

"Shadowbound" has a powerful start with thunderous guitar riffs and strong bassline, leading into the verse part. It is once again a contrast to the preceding title track as it is the album ballad. Like most Metal ballads, the melodies are dark and melancholic, and the choruses are sing-alongs. The basslines are very prominent as they drive the track forward. Most of the track is played at a measured tempo, however, there are a couple of tempo switches included, which makes the track more dynamic. "Warning Shot" is a bit more like Power Metal: direct and tight guitar riffs, fast tempo, and some double-bass drumming. The basslines are crushing, and the vocals are versatile, covering a lot of the vocal range. The break slows down to mid-tempo for another cool lead guitar solo. "Slug City" starts with powerful guitar riffs leading into a verse part at a measured tempo at a head-banging rhythm. The guitar riffing during verse and chorus parts is direct and thunderous, while the choruses are anthemic. The break delivers an extended lead guitar solo with plenty of Grooves. "Steel Heart" raises pace and it starts with a first lead guitar solo. The guitar riffing is tight, the basslines are crunching, and there are once again plenty of lead guitar contributions during the choruses. The melodies are catchy and for me, "Steel Heart" is the most traditional Power Metal song on the album. Of course, a long and contributing lead guitar solo is delivered as in every good Power Metal track. Leaving aside the hectic parts introduced by the lead guitars, "Steel Heart" is one of the album highlights.

"Slowman" is what the title indicates, it is a slow track. It is not another ballad, but it is a track at a measured tempo with darkness in the melodies. The guitar riffing is powerful, while the melodies of the choruses have once again a trace of melancholy. Highlight of the track is the excellent lead guitar solo. "King Of The Slain" starts with a guitar-driven intro at mid-tempo transitioning into a fast verse part. The verse parts are relatively short, and the choruses slow down to a measured tempo with dark melodies and overlays by the lead guitars. This is a typical feature of the HYPERSTRIKE sound and the additional lead guitar contributions often occur during the choruses. This introduces a bit of hectic into the tracks. It is noteworthy mentioning, that the melodies here have some neoclassical vibes at times. The album finishes with "Savage Sword" and the track starts with a guitar solo introducing the main riff, leading into the verse part at mid-tempo. The guitar riffing is tight, and the basslines are crushing. The melodies are dark and slightly melancholic, in particular during the choruses. The album does not really finish with a bang, it is not the strongest song on the album, and it finishes with slowly fading out, leaving the listener a bit stranded.

HYPERSTRIKE offer a decent debut album. "High Risk" is a Power Metal album, but the album sound is very versatile and leaves plenty of room for other genres and inspirations. Some of the songs had plenty of Grooves. The lead guitars are key contributors to the album sound as they are not restricted to solos. The songwriting sounds a bit unpolished at times. The album is well produced. HYPERSTRIKE show that modern Power Metal can be multi-dimensional and fans who are open to a broad Metal sound will surely enjoy the debut album.