The Shrike's musical heritage is derived from such bands as Led Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, Heart, and Queens of the Stone Age, but the band does not limit itself to one classic sound. Modern flourishes and eclectic arrangements give this band a dynamic hard-rocking sound infused with passages of light and darkness.The Shrike is named after the iconic character in Dan Simmons' classic Hyperion Cantos. Some of their songs are about characters from the book series.