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! ! ! ! !
Artist......: Sandstorm
Album.......: Time to Strike
Year........: 2019
Genre.......: Heavy Metal
Type........: EP
Label.......: Independent
Language....: English
Source......: WEB/FLAC (16bit)
Quality.....: 997kbps / 44.1 kHz / Stereo
Tracks......: 6 tracks
Playtime....: 00:34:27
Size........: 245.9 MiB
R.Date......: 2026-07-14
S.Date......: 2019-02-08
Url.........: https://open.qobuz.com/album/fif1k0intvwdb
01. Death Is Near 6:19
02. Whips and Chains 5:10
03. Witchman, Sorcerer of Satan 6:09
04. Denizen of Hell 5:17
05. Hymn to the Hell Knights 5:40
06. Lucia, Warrior of Light 5:53
Hailing from Vancouver, SANDSTORM are a power-trio in
the grand tradition: PJ "The Butcher" La Griffe on
drums, Reptile Anderson on lead vocals & bass guitar,
and Stevie "Broke" Whiteless on lead vocals & guitar.
The band formed during the winter 2017 and were
initially inspired by '80s Swedish underground metal,
the original NWOBHM movement, and "Rob Halford's
Instagram account." While knowing (and fully embracing)
all of heavy metal's over-the-top aesthetics at the dawn
of the 1980s, it became immediately apparent that
SANDSTORM were indeed the Real fucking Deal when faced
with their debut album, Time to Strike.
In early 2019, SANDSTORM digitally released Time to
Strike and did a self-released run of 100 CDs and tapes,
all of which sold out quickly, and for good reason: here
was glorious (and gloriously scrappy) pre-speed/thrash
HEAVY METAL in the literally ancient, sword-wielding
style so favored in the early '80s, rendered in such
authentic (and authentically over-the-top) style, you'd
be forgiven for thinking that this was some unearthed
relic from the era. Nothing's overdriven here, and
everything moves at a patient yet hot-rocking pace; all
strings suitably retain a strong sense of rock 'n' roll,
pared back in distortion to allow the medieval
melodicism to work its magick. And, like all the best
early true metal, the vocals are clear and authoritative
and just high-pitched enough to evoke that misty 'n'
mystical sensation. And although Time to Strike
comprises but six songs, each one's a mini-epic in its
own right, making the album a compact but somehow
expansive 35 minutes.
Many references could be made to Time to Strike, but no
specific one in particular - that's just how infectious
and charismatic SANDSTORM are. And this is only the
beginning, with more new material due later this year on
DYING VICTIMS. Additionally, SANDSTORM will play
Sweden's esteemed Muskelrock fest this year, which
perfectly suits the band's obscure 'n' old-school take
on heavy metal. Fuck yeah, it's Time to Strike!