LOS ANGELES, CA (May 23, 2026) — The Los Angeles, CA based heavy metal outfit LIGHTNING STRIKES have released their sophomore album ‘The King Is Victorious’.
Due to strong global CD sales, The King Is Victorious by Lightning Strikes will be released on vinyl on May 23, exclusively through eBay. The release will be accompanied by an official lyric video for “Voices in My Head.”
Beginning May 23, the original 1986 Lightning Strikes single featuring “Lottery Tickets” and “Lightning Strikes” will also become available worldwide across all major digital streaming and download platforms. A companion video for “Lottery Tickets” will premiere on YouTube.
Ebay Site: www.ebay.com/usr/lightningstrikesband
Voices In My Head (Video): youtu.be/hDMjdxOIRTU
Lottery Tickets (Video): youtu.be/34lQKWhl3lo
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)
Stream the album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4De9sAG42xeTYm2Zxz2Hpt?si=JTiH1jZcRd-RRr_-SpRM6w
Karpis Maksudian shared some thoughts on love that was put into creating ‘The King is Victorious’, “The excitement of the release comes from knowing this isn’t just another project. It’s the one people have been waiting on. The one that shows growth. The one that proves your sound evolved. The one that separates you from everyone else. The 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. Now it is time to let the world hear it.”
The bulk of the album was recorded by Maksudian, a Japanese guitar virtuoso, Norifumi Shima (CONCERTO MOON), American bassist extraordinaire, Barry Sparks (MSG, Yngwie Malmsteen), and up-and-coming Argentinian vocalist, Mariano Gardella, with keyboard maestro, Derek Sherinian (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, SONS OF APOLLO), who guested on the group’s debut album, also making an appearance.
Originally formed in 1984, LIGHTNING STRIKES were the first metal band to feature an all Armenian-American line-up, well over a decade before the arrival of SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Co-founder Maksudian revived the name with new personnel a quarter century after the initial breakup recording the group’s self-titled 2016 full-length debut with Brazilian vocalist Nando Fernandes (SINISTRA, HANGAR), the aforementioned Rob Math and Derek Sherinian, and former BLACK SABBATH vocalist, Tony Martin, who sang on and wrote the lyrics to ‘Death Valley’ and ‘301 AD Sins of Our Fathers’. Mixed by Roy Z, the album was well received and peaked on the Japanese Burrn! Magazine import charts at number 6.
Track Listing:
Fear Of Unknown
Voices In My Head
Clash Of Battalions
The King Is Victorious
Aim and Shoot
Lucid Dreams
New Beginning
Masquerade Suite (Instrumental)
Musicians:
Karpis Maksudian – Drums/USA
Shima Norifumi – Lead Guitar/Japan
Barry Sparks – Bass/USA
Mariano Gardella – Vocals/Germany
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards/USA
Producer: Karpis Maksudian
Engineer: Dario Mollo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightningstrikesrocks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightningstrikesrocks/
X: x.com/lsrocksofficial
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@lightningstrikesofficial387
For all inquiries, contact:
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