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Striker is not exactly a new name in the Metal scene, seeing as bands with that name go back to the early '80s in the US, first an early Power Metal act which only left us a 1982 single before splitting up, then a Heavy Metal band from Florida which gave us a single in 1985. In the late '80s a Heavy Metal act came from Amberg (Bavaria) in Germany (they had a first run from 1988 to 2005, and then regrouped in 2010). 2009 saw the formation of an Austrian Thrash Metal act, but their status is currently uncertain...and then there was also a Hard Rock act from Seattle!

Hailing from London, UK, Steak was founded in 2010 by a foursome of musicians who took musical influences from the greater bands in the Stoner Rock, Desert Rock, and Fuzz Rock genres.

Founded at the end of 2002 as a Progressive Rock trio, this Lozère based French band (actually, they're from Marvejols in the South of France, a town situated squarely in the middle between Clermond-Ferrand and Montpellier – in effect, some 174 km by road from Montpellier, by way of Millau) recorded an album entitled N'Importe Où..., and then fell into oblivion, as first the bassist and then the guitarist successively left the band. End of the story for those guys...!

Since 2008, a Columbus based musician known only as Cloudkicker has been releasing instrumental Post-Rock/ Prog Rock-Metal material (2008's The Discovery and The Map Is Not The Territory; 2009's Portmanteau; 2010's Beacons and ]]][[[; 2011's Let Yourself Be Huge and Loop; 2012's Fade, and 2013's Subsume – some of which were EP's, others full-lengths) which he made available for free download through the internet.

Greek outfit Abyssgale finally seem to crawl out of the depths of the Netherworlds. They were created ten years ago, and they recorded / released an EP, called The Coming Plague, in 2006. Then several changes in line-up followed throughout the next years. And, which is an important element to mention, Abyssgale were able to perform live on stage with great acts such as Rotting Christ, Impaled Nazarene, Aura Noir and Necros Christos; impressing it is, not?!

Wolfpakk's 'Rise Of The Animal'  enjoyable slice of classic Metal. Michael Voss and Mark Sweeney have again partnered up to bring more Metal mayhem to the masses via their third chapter of their allstar project.

Where else can you find Don Dokken, Michael Kiske, David Reese, Joe Lynn Turner and Marc Storace all singing on the same album? Where else can one hope to find Jeff Watson, Bernie Tormé, John Norum, Doug Aldrich and Axel Rudi Pell throwing down guitar tracks on the same disc?

 “Cold was the ground” – the third album by these Roadburn veterans” offers dark delta blues, Southern swagger and pure heaviness : this one’s got soul!! It’s mainly the rough vocals from founder Steve Moss that enriches the sound of the band. Moss’ way of singing is raw and sometimes close to growls while the guitar riffs are based on what bands like Kyuss started years ago. Newly signed to “Napalm Records”, “Cold was the ground” is a sound of a band energized, committed, driven, with a passion to rock.

This album provides me with a lovely sense of nostalgia, taking me back to the days of being a teenager. Give this album to my sons and they're quiet for a couple of hours! Maybe this band could be a possible nominee for the line up of "Groezrock, Belgium"!

Ever heard about Shed The Skin? Never did I. But you know, this band’s line-up might be known, believe me.

Santa Cruz is a Finnish modern hard rock band formed on the hot summer of 2007 in Helsinki by Archie Kuosmanen and Johnny Parkkonen. With the mutualaspiration of playing their rear ends off and kicking people's derrieres the two teens shared the same goals and similar same passion for a band to be. Inspired by greats as Skid Row and Guns N' Roses, the name Santa Cruz was chosen as the title of their vision of a perfect hard rock band. In the beginning of the following year, Middy Toivonen joined in to play the bass.