UK old-school rockers Airforce have joined forces with European label Pitch Black Records for the release of the band’s new album, their second full-length since reforming in 2016.

The new Airforce studio album Strike Hard is set for release on September 4th 2020 on CD and Digital formats.

Airforce stem originally from the NWoBHM era back in the eighties with the band’s style best described as Old School metal at its best, full of hooks, riffs and soaring melodies!

The band was originally formed in 1986 by Tony Hatton (bass), Chop Pitman (guitars) and legendary drummer Doug Sampson (ex- Iron Maiden).

The Airforce line-up now includes the extremely talented vocalist Flavio Lino who recently joined the band on a permanent basis.

Strike Hard features a guest appearance by former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’ Anno.

The origins of Airforce can be traced to Pitman and Hatton who played together in a band called E.L-34. However the band split up in the mid-1980s.

Pitman was a very good friend of Steve Harris ( Iron Maiden ) and mentioned to Steve that he was looking for a drummer to form a new band along with Tony Hatton. Steve Harris introduced Chop to former Maiden drummer Doug Sampson.

Harris took Doug Sampson to the studio and Chop Pitman, Harris and Doug Sampson had a jamming session together. Doug Sampson then decided to join Chop Pitman and Chop’s ex-bandmate Tony Hatton.

Airforce was Born…

The band gigged together for over eleven years with various vocalists. They then decided to go on their separate ways and were involved with other projects – Chop Pitman carried on with the band name Airforce with various musicians.

In 2010 he met up with vocalist Dilian Arnaudov through a friend and asked him to stand in for a gig as Airforce vocalist. After a while Arnaudov had to return to his native Bulgaria due to family issues but he stayed in touch with Pitman.

In 2015 Airforce was contacted by Watchout Records and was asked if the band would supply a track for the Origins of Iron CD which featured all ex-Iron Maiden members.

Airforce then released a compilation album, Judgement Day,  in 2016 which stirred a renewed interest in the band.

Doug Sampson and Tony Hatton came to the launch party of that album and at that point It was collectively decided to get the original band back together. After they auditioned Dilian Arnaudov, the missing piece of the puzzle was found. Dilian and the band wasted no time in writing new material and performing all over the UK and other parts of Europe.

In 2018 Airforce released two EPs: The Black Box Recordings Volumes 1 and 2. Paul Di’Anno was invited to record one song, Sniper, for the second EP.

Later that year, Italian singer Ivan Giannini (Derdian, Vision Divine) started helping the band fulfil their live commitments.

In January 2019 Airforce recorded one song with another former Iron Maiden member, vocalist Paul Mario Day. Paul Mario Day was the very first singer of Iron Maiden and also sang with More, Wildfire and Sweet.