Strident

Strident is a South African power metal group from Cape Town, active since 2008. The band forms around guitarists Deon van Heerden and George van der Riet, who start it after finding little epic, melodic metal in South Africa and set out to play old-school, heavily melodic, guitar-led power metal.

Formation and early activity

The band first performs on 30 May 2008 at the Klein Libertas Theater, supporting Kobus!. Its early line-up includes brothers Piet and Johan Delport and drummer Marcel Christie, alongside van Heerden and van der Riet. The group describes its sound as epic melodic power metal with a strong emphasis on riffs, solos and a traditional heavy metal style.

Releases and line-up

Strident releases its independent album Oath in October 2010. The current line-up listed for the band is Piet Delport on bass guitar and backing vocals, Christian Burgess on drums, Deon van Heerden on vocals and lead guitar, George van der Riet on rhythm guitar, Niell Schoeman on guitar, and Daniel Vollgraaff on keyboards.

Style

The band is identified with South African power metal and is presented as a defender of traditional heavy metal, with an emphasis on melodic, sword-and-sorcery-style power metal imagery and a classic, old-school approach.