Los Angeles–based heavy metal outfit Lightning Strikes have announced an exclusive vinyl release of their acclaimed full-length album The King Is Victorious, released on May 23rd exclusively through eBay.
Due to strong global CD demand, the vinyl pressing will give fans a new way to experience the band’s powerful return, and will be accompanied by an official lyric video for “Voices in My Head,” premiering alongside the release.
Beginning May 23rd, the band’s original 1986 single, featuring “Lottery Tickets” and “Lightning Strikes,” will become available worldwide across all major streaming and digital download platforms. A companion video for “Lottery Tickets” will premiere on YouTube in celebration of the historic release.
The original 1986 recording features:
Karpis Maksudian – Drums
Harout Khatchoyan – Vocals
Levon Zeytounzian – Lead Guitar
Cat Tate – Bass
John Harjo – Keyboards (Guest Musician)
In addition, the 2016 self-titled debut album, Lightning Strikes, will be released worldwide on all major digital platforms for streaming and purchase.
Featuring:
Karpis Maksudian – Drums
Rob Math – Lead Guitar
Cat Tate – Bass
Nando Fernandes – Vocals
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards (Guest Musician)
Tracklisting:
1. Fear Of Unknown
2. Voices In My Head
3. Clash Of Battalions
4. The King Is Victorious
5. Aim And Shoot
6. Lucid Dreams
7. New Beginning
8. Masquerade Suite (Instrumental)
Karpis Maksudian shares:
They said heavy metal was just noise. They said the wait was too long. They said the fire fades with time. They were wrong.
This album isn’t just music — it’s years of pressure, pain, growth, and hunger forged into sound. Every riff hits harder. Every drum feels like thunder. Every scream carries everything I’ve been holding back.
This is the heavy metal you’ve been waiting for. Superstar-level heaters. No fillers. No limits. Just raw power. I didn’t come back quietly. I came back louder. Stronger. Hungrier. When this drops, it’s not just an album release — it’s a takeover.
Turn your speakers up. Tell the world heavy metal is alive. And get ready… because once this is out, there’s no turning back. And I also as a producer want to take this moment to speak from the heart.
From the bottom of my soul, thank you to every single person who was part of this powerful journey. This album was built on passion, fire, and brotherhood — and I’m beyond grateful to the warriors who stepped into the storm with me.
A special, thunderous thank you to the legends who played on the title track “The King Is Victorious” without hesitation, without conditions — just pure love for the music and the metal spirit:
Rowan Robertson, Mark Zavon, Craig Goldy, Norifumi Shima, Takehiko “Shake” Kogure, Dario Mollo, Mariano Gardella, Rob Math, Barry Sparks, Derek Sherinian, Michael T. Ross and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.
Your talent, your energy, your riffs, your solos, your power — you helped turn this song into a battlefield anthem. This wasn’t just collaboration… this was unity. This was heavy metal brotherhood at its finest.
The King is Victorious because of all of you. Let the world hear it.
With The King Is Victorious, Lightning Strikes build upon their legacy with a refined, aggressive, and globally influenced heavy metal sound that honors the band’s roots while pushing forward with renewed intensity.
A Japanese edition of The King Is Victorious released via Rubicon Music, featuring a bonus track exclusive to that territory.
The King Is Victorious is available worldwide: SPOTIFY
Physical CD’s can be purchased in America at the following locations: Walmart – Amazon
The Japanese version of the CD with bonus track is at the following locations: Disk Union – CD Japan – HMV – Tower Records
WATCH the video for “Voices in my Head”:
WATCH the video for “Lottery Tickets”:
Originally formed in 1984, Lightning Strikes made history as the first heavy metal band with an all Armenian-American lineup, predating the emergence of System Of A Down by more than a decade. After disbanding, Maksudian revived the Lightning Strikes name more than 25 years later, assembling a new lineup to record the band’s self-titled debut album in 2016.
That release featured Brazilian vocalist Nando Fernandes (Sinistra, Hangar), drummer Rob Math, Derek Sherinian, and legendary former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin, who sang on and penned lyrics for standout tracks “Death Valley” and “301 AD (Sins Of Our Fathers).” Mixed by renowned producer Roy Z, the album was met with strong critical acclaim and peaked at #6 on Japan’s Burrn! Magazine import charts.
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 