As requested, here’s in exclusive the remastered reissue of ”Shoot You Down!”, from German Eighties cult band STREET FIGHTER. Formed in the Seventies, STREET FIGHTER released their debut LP in 1982 in a classic melodic metal style influenced by the likes of Scorpions, UFO and Accept. And the Accept connection doesn’t ends there as Udo Dirkschneider helped to produce this ”Shoot You Down!” and provided backing vocals.
In fact, the main man behind the desk was the legendary Michael Wagener who mostly produced, engineered & mixed ”Shoot You Down!”, so expect a much more polished, commercial, melodic catchy brand of hard rock / melodic metal here.
Originally appeared in 1984, ”Shoot You Down!” has that magic sound & atmosphere from the era, this is pure ’80s stuff, just take a look at the cover art!
Hailing from Essen, Street Fighter formed in 1976 and a few years later they released their debut album Feel The Noise on the small German Up Records, which to our knowledge was the first and only heavy metal act on that label.
After the debut the band were able to sign to a major label like Polydor records, this meant that this second album, ”Shoot You Down!” got released in both Germany and The Netherlands on Polydor while their partners Indisc released the LP in Belgium, and Victoria Records in Spain.
The album was recorded and mixed at Dierks Studios in Cologne and produced by Michael Wagener and Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider. Both Dirkschneider and Wagener lays some background vocals, and seems the latter did some drumming as well (uncredited).
This is the sound of mid-80s that so many traditional metal / hard fans never get tired of. Songs like “Rock City”, “Stealer”, “Jailbreak” or the title track are pure fun, with wet riffs, big vocals and ‘that’ drum sound.
”Shoot You Down!” was well received all over Europe thanks to proper distribution, with Japanese and American fans able to get it as import. Things looked promising for the band but internal troubles generated friction with the group disbanding next year.
With that band name & album name, you presume these guys rock hard, and they do. With an ’80s charm.
Highly Recommended
1 – Rock City
2 – Stealer
3 – Lonely
4 – No Time to Love
5 – Jailbreak
6 – Shoot You Down
7 – Soldier
8 – Are You Ready
Roland MICHELI (Vocals)
Hans GROPEL (Guitars)
Uwe RAHLF (Bass)
Mario LIESE (Drums)