Warriors (band)

Lore & Background

After the debut album, Warriors moved to Toronto, Canada, and signed with Attic Records. In 1984, with Canadian drummer Lawrence Gretsch as a new member, they recorded a second self-titled album. Following a short tour with Nazareth, the band disbanded in 1986. Post-breakup, Svrdlan played with American band Lost City and British band Michael Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel. Gretsch later joined The Carpet Frogs. In 2019, Nikolić, under the moniker Warrior Angel, released the concept album Griffin 1.29 Chapter 1, dedicated to his late wife, followed by Chapter 2 in 2020. He died in Canada on 10 November 2022.

Reader's Guide

Warriors occupy a niche in heavy metal history as a Yugoslav band that transitioned to the Canadian scene. Their early work, particularly the 1983 EP and debut album, represents an early example of Yugoslav heavy metal with bilingual lyrics. The band's move to Canada and signing with Attic Records marked a rare cross-continental shift for a metal act of the era. Though short-lived, their second album and tour with Nazareth gave them exposure in North America. The later careers of members—Svrdlan in Lost City and Gene Loves Jezebel, Gretsch in The Carpet Frogs, and Nikolić's solo work as Warrior Angel—extend the band's legacy. Their discography, consisting of two self-titled albums and one EP, remains of interest to collectors of 1980s heavy metal and Yugoslav rock history.

Did You Know?

• The band was originally named Ratnici, which is Serbo-Croatian for Warriors.
• Drummer Miroslav 'Vicko' Milatović was a member of the highly successful band Riblja Čorba while forming Warriors as a side project.
• The band's debut EP featured two songs in English and two in Serbo-Croatian.
• After disbanding, bassist Slobodan Svrdlan later played with American band Lost City and British band Michael Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel.