First Strike

First Strike stood out among mid-1980s hard rock acts for their melodic sophistication, even though their discography consists solely of the 1984 Exit Records release Rock Offensive. The lineup featured Tony Gunn handling vocals, with Tim Larkin and Pat Boylan on guitars, Chris Salmon on bass, and Johnnie Delaney behind the drums. A tightly controlled hard rock approach brought early likenings to AC/DC and Coney Hatch, while the standout element remained the heavily distorted twin-guitar work from Boylan and Larkin, complemented by their robust vocal harmonies. Strong critical notices and modest airplay notwithstanding, Rock Offensive remained the band’s only full-length effort.