ANTHRAX's DAN SPITZ Teams Up With Composer KEVIN MANTHEI For 'Upshift StrikeRacer' Soundtrack

StrikeRacers everywhere now have distinctive guitar-heavy music to compliment the online rubber-burning, explosive action of Gala-Net's Upshift StrikeRacer. The online game publisher announced today that acclaimed composer Kevin Manthei, who has scored dozens of critically and commercially successful video games, movies and television shows, and Dan Spitz, lead guitarist of world-famous Grammy-nominated heavy metal rock band ANTHRAX, have teamed up for the game's official soundtrack. The upcoming free-to-play online car racing and combat game will feature seven original tracks by the two musicians.

Upshift StrikeRacer marks the first free-to-play online game for music composer Manthei, known for scoring many high-profile Hollywood projects. In addition to a number of hit movies and television shows, Manthei's credits include video games Ultimate Spiderman, City of Villains, Dead to Rights and Twisted Metal Black.

"I couldn't pass up the chance to work with a heavy metal guitar hero like Dan on the soundtrack for a game that is really a lot of fun to play," said Kevin Manthei. "We created a sound that mixes choral inspired orchestra with heavy rock guitar riffs to invoke both a sense of transcendence and adolescent frenzy, which is exactly what players will find in Upshift StrikeRacer."

The high-octane, adrenaline pumping Upshift StrikeRacer marks the first time that Spitz has written music for and lent his original style of jazz-infused hard rock riffs to an interactive entertainment project. Spitz, lead guitarist for one of the most popular heavy metal bands of all time, not only plays the blazing riffs on every one of Upshift StrikeRacer's songs, he also co-wrote a number of the tracks and co-mixed one with Manthei.

"Writing and recording music for a video game has given me the opportunity to reach music fans in a way unlike on a record or at a live show," said Dan Spitz. "Working on Upshift StrikeRacer with Kevin, one of the best in the business, has been an incredible experience. We were able to make truly original music that compliments the gameplay and makes the entire experience complete for the players."

Upshift StrikeRacer is the first free-to-play online game to combine modern vehicles with a full arsenal of weaponry and a robust community for gamers looking both for social networking and for head-to-head destructive racing battles on a multiplayer scale. Players can compete with up to seven other StrikeRacers at a time through multiple modes of play including Team versus Team, straight timed racing and the no-holds barred StrikeRacing mode, pitting both their driving skills and their arsenals against each other. Extensive player community tools include the ability for StrikeRacers to create their own Club web pages onto which they can upload photos and music, share their blogs and network with other StrikeRacers around the world to develop real-world friendships.

"Both Dan and Kevin are icons in their respective fields, and to have them collaborating on Upshift StrikeRacer is a musical 'Dream Team' for us," said John Young, vice president and producer, Gala-Net. "Together they nailed the sound we wanted for a game that lets you mount wicked weapons on your car and hurl out explosive fury on friends and strangers alike – all while racing for victory."

Upshift StrikeRacer is currently in open beta and available to the North American public to play. To sign up for the beta and download the game, head to Upshift StrikeRacer's official web site at strikeracer.gpotato.com.