AIRSTRIKE – Initial Attack [Remastered +10] (2019)

Some weeks ago we featured here the unreleased recordings from Nebraska based melodic hard rock band Cowboy X. During the ’80s Cowboy X vocalist was part of AIRSTRIKE, which managed to record a mini-LP. Now Cowboy X’s front man Gregg Lee has arranged with FnA Records to release his pre-Cowboy X band Airstrike recordings; “Initial Attack [Remastered +10]”.
The CD includes Airstrike’s extremely rare and sought after album mini-LP titled “Initial Attack” originally released in 1986, plus 10 tracks of never before released material to bring the total track count to 18.

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” mini-LP.
The album itself was a limited release upon its original 1986 pressing, with only 100 vinyl and 300 cassettes being produced.

The end of the band came in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Gregg Lee being involved in a car accident that sidelined him for the next 9 months. With the rest of Airstrike moving on to other projects during this time, Gregg later founded Cowboy X.

Originally a private release, “Initial Attack” has a decent production with the typical mid-Eighties US melodic hard rock sound and style. It’s quite ‘pure’, not with glam / hair 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, listenable stuff.
“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.
Very cool collectible.

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
BONUS TRACKS:
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 Melendez (Bass)
John Jet Matthews (Drums)

BUY IT !
www.nehrecords.com/product/ships-02-26-19-airstrike-initial-attack/
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