Dan Cleary and Tim Brown are two members of Edmonton-based heavy metal powerhouse Striker. As they approach two decades in the music industry, the guys discuss their DIY recording roots, the reality of independent record labels, and conquering the European metal festival circuit. From winning a Juno Award mid-pandemic to their 2024 stylistic evolution on Ultra Power, learn how these Canadian metal veterans maintain longevity by prioritizing brand authenticity and pure, unadulterated fun.

ep35 Striker just wanna have fun
released March 5, 2026
1:40:43

https://www.striker-metal.com/
http://instagram.com/strikermetal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU67S5jpv-oENDrjRZEcmuA

Takeaways

• Striker is approaching their 20th anniversary as a band.
• Touring life is often glamorized, but the reality includes a lot of waiting and driving.
• The perception of metal genres has evolved, with more blending and acceptance of different styles.
• The visual and stylistic changes in Striker's image were a conscious decision to embrace fun and creativity.
• They emphasize the importance of having fun in music, especially in the face of industry challenges.

Striker, Canadian metal, longevity, independent labels, music industry, Juno Award, touring, band dynamics, Edmonton music scene, metal genres, band dynamics, authenticity, new music, fun in music, advice for bands

hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
Almost Famous Enough website: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
Almost Famous Enough Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480

Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:26 Meet Striker and Origins

05:40 20 Years of Metal Longevity

11:09 DIY Demos and First Deal

16:05 Edmonton Scene and Europe Breakthrough

27:52 Fame Myths Touring Reality

40:30 Junos Get Canceled

41:43 Does A Juno Matter

44:21 Pandemic Tour Limbo

45:59 Band Nearly Breaks

50:48 Ultra Power New Vibe

01:11:24 What’s Next And Drummer

01:18:14 Fill-In Drummers Policy

01:19:11 Advice For New Bands

01:20:01 Fun Over Money In AI Era

01:21:38 DIY Skills And Self Investment

01:24:41 Post-Fame with Alexi