Speed Stroke – Damage Control

Speed Stroke
Damage Control
Label: Scarlet Records
Out: 21^st August 2026
Playing time: 39:55

Speed Stroke master the art of hard rock through a personal approach that perfectly blends the Scandinavian sleaze rock modern edge and the glorious legacy of the 80s street metal scene.

‘Damage Control’ is already the fourth album by the Italian Hard Rock band. Well, the press release doesn’t provide much more information than that, though. Not even the names of the band members. It merely states that Dario Capacci (Trick Or Treat) is on drums (though it’s unclear whether he plays on all the tracks), and that singer Giorgia Colleluori (ex-Sinner, IT’sALIE) can be heard on “Blessed By Misery”.

‘Glorious Breakdown’ kicks off with hard drum rhythms. Then the guitars kick in, still driven by the drums. The vocals are appropriately heavy. A chorus can be heard during the refrain. The highlight is a powerful twin-guitar solo. The pace is then slowed down on the rhythmic ‘Heart Of The City’. The calm tempo is set by the drums and taken up by the guitars. Once again, backing vocals can be heard at times. The title track, ‘Damage Control’ then switches back to high-speed mode at the start, before becoming more rhythmic and slightly calmer once more. As before, the chorus is easy to sing along to. ‘State Of Shock’ begins with vocally distorted vocals. But only briefly; then it becomes hard-hitting and powerful once more. And the variety continues throughout the track. Alongside the anthem ‘Italian Coglione’; ‘In Flames’, which starts off pounding before giving way to fast riffs; the Blues Rocker ‘Blessed By Misery’ featuring guest vocalist Giorgia Colleluori; and the Rock ‘n’ Roll smash hit ‘All For The Weak End’, it never gets boring. Shortly before the end, ‘Walls’ follows as another Hard Rock anthem. Finally, ‘Chain Reaction’ delivers a return to classic Rock ‘n’ Roll.

With ‘Damage Control’, Speed Stroke have released an entertaining and varied album. It weaves its way through various strands of melodic hard rock. It features beautiful melodies, heavy riffs and rock-style vocals. It’s a pleasure to listen to.

Speed Stroke – Glorious Breakdown: https://youtu.be/p1GWX_cEu2E?si=Y_NW_guu1UW3Nx_-

Lineup:

Jack – Vocals
D.B – Guitar
Michael – Guitar
Fungo – Bass
Maddy – Drums

Track list:

• Glorious Breakdown
• Heart Of The City
• Damage Control
• State Of Shock
• Italian Coglione
• In Flames
• Blessed By Misery
• All For The Weak End
• Walls
• Chain Reaction