{"id":14493,"date":"2017-01-26T00:23:42","date_gmt":"2017-01-26T08:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/?p=14493"},"modified":"2017-01-26T00:47:18","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T08:47:18","slug":"beyond-shred-city-limits-striker-reconquers-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/2017\/01\/26\/beyond-shred-city-limits-striker-reconquers-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Shred City Limits: Striker Reconquers Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Review by Andrew Bansal, photos by Matt Nielson<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Striker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 24th 2017, Complex, Glendale CA:\u00a0<\/strong>A highly active and successful 2016 has paved the way for a scorching start to 2017 for Canadian metal band Striker, who as a group, nearing the end of the first decade of their career, have proved themselves time and again as one of the finest proponents of all things traditional, power, speed, shred, glam and thrash metal put together into a style they can truly call their own.<\/p>\n

Striker’s\u00a0fourth and latest full-length album ‘Stand in the Fire’ was the runaway winner for best album of 2016<\/a>, and less than a year since its release, they have\u00a0already confirmed\u00a0a February 2017 release for their fifth album, a self-titled effort. Currently, Striker are on a US headline tour on their way to and back from the 70000 Tons of Metal Cruise, and en route, made an LA area stop for a gig at Complex in Glendale last Tuesday January 24th, with local support acts Madrost and Ironaut.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ironaut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Local stoner\/sludge trio Ironaut<\/a><\/strong> started proceedings at around 9:15 with a righteously excellent set, as skulls were crushed and ears bled due to the sheer heaviness emanating from the stage. Probably the most actively gigging band in the LA scene at the moment, Ironaut play shows in every venue that is willing to book them, but always seem to save their best for their appearances here at Complex, as evident from this set. They presented a flawless combination of tunes from their two EPs as well as a new offering called ‘World of Shit’ which is a song very much reminiscent of bands like The Sword and Venomous Maximus, and showcases the ultra-rapid evolution the trio is undergoing as songwriters. Vocalist\/bassist Erik Kluiber was his entertaining best as a frontman while his band mates Patrick McHugh (guitar) and Ivan Najor (drums) also brought their chops to the fore. These three put the iron in Ironaut and one hopes that they will keep doing so relentlessly for a long time to come.<\/p>\n

Ironaut photos:<\/strong><\/p>\n