STRIKE FORCE – Made To Rock [Bad Reputation Records remaster] (2025) *HQ*

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Canadian 80’s metal act STRIKE FORCE are back in the spotlight! Their long-lost album ‘Breakin’ In’, recorded back in the day but never officially released, finally sees the light of day. Newly titled “Made To Rock”, the record is being released by Bad Reputation specialists with a proper remastering from the original tapes.
Some weeks ago we featured STRIKE FORCE’s first, 1984’s self-titled album also remastered by Bad Reputation, a strong LP musically influenced by the NWOBHM wave of metal, but also the the North American sound for the genre.
After the first record STRIKE FORCE toured all over Canada with the band experiencing some line up changes, and in-between gigs, they started recording songs for their second album, with the working title ‘Breakin’ In’.
Musically more melodic than before with a hard rock punch added to the mix yet still heavy sonically like mix between Dokken, Virgin Steele and Helix, around 1985-86 STRIKE FORCE already had the material ready but a record deal will become elusive.
Due internal troubles, STRIKE FORCE split circa 1988, with their sophomore effort shelved and remaining unreleased for decades. Until now…
A long overdue release for fans of classic Canadian metal / hard rock – and a must-have for collectors.

The original lineup of Strike Force consisted of Pierre Paillé on drums, Mario Leblanc on bass, Romy Bélanger on guitar, and Michel Pitre on keyboards and guitar. The band recorded their first, self-titled LP album in Detroit. Unfortunately, Paillé died of leukemia at the age of 20. Strike Force rolled up their sleeves and decided to continue on their path.
With their new drummer Sylvain Latendresse, the second incarnation of Strike Force hit the road again. After touring throughout the province of Quebec, Mario Leblanc and Michel Pitre took a new musical direction. Their repertoire became a little heavier, reflecting the classic hard rock sound of the mid-1980s. Guitarist Romy Bélanger, uninterested in this change, left the band.

In 1985, the third incarnation of Strike Force appeared. With a new guitarist, Marc Tousignant, and a talented singer, Miguel Garcia, the band gave a big concert near Montreal. In the audience were Pop Rock director Géo Giguere and Contours Production director Alain Paré. The show was a success, the crowd went wild, and Paré, impressed, invited the band to participate in the Rock Tour 85. The band performed in some thirty major concert halls and arenas.

Once again, bad luck struck Strike Force: guitarist Marc Tousignant had family problems and left the band. He was replaced by virtuoso Mario “Smurf” Lessard. This final lineup would be the last until the band broke up at the end of 1988.
Between 1985-1987, when the band had a chance to rest a bit, they usually spent their free time in a Montreal recording studio called Studio 1913. It was during this period that the band composed the original songs that ended up on their second album, ‘Breakin’ In’. All they needed was to find a recording contract.
Unfortunately, years of endless touring had worn the band down. No longer having the energy to continue their adventure, the STRIKE FORCE decided to split up, turning down offers from record labels.
Almost forty years later, the damage has been repaired with the release of this treasure that had been buried for too long.
Highly Recommended

01 – Made To Rock
02 – Can’t Stay Alone
03 – Together Forever
04 – Master Of Destiny
05 – Thunder
06 – Romance
07 – Screaming In The Dark
08 – Run
09 – Street Fighter

Bass, Lead Vocals – Mario Leblanc
Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Mike Pitre
Vocals – Miguel Garcia
Guitar – Mario Lessard
Drums – Sylvain Latendresse

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