Riot (the V has something to do with the number of vocalists or something) have been around since before most of you were born. 1975. First release a couple of years later. I’m old and even I only took note in 1979 when Narita was released with that bloody weird ‘sumo-seal-owl’ mascot which clearly From Software used as the basis for some of their game bosses… Or not. Ahem. But really it’s not the same band. For this Riot you really can ‘only’ go back to 1986 which is when bassist Don Van Stavern joined and two years later guitarist Mike Flyntz. And for a sonic reference, their dearly loved by Keep It True afficianados ‘Thundersteel’ album is still pretty much the template. Melodic heavy metal with excursions towards the speed metal zone and back again.
Now I gotta say when I looked at the length of this album clocking over 50 minutes my heart sank. Can’t remember when that length suited this kind of music.
‘Hail To The Warriors’ has a sampled intro, building the tension until a lovely chunky metal riff begins and Todd Michael Hall’s superb metal air raid siren vocals soar over the thundering drums and we’re off into power metal world. Singalong segments, clean melody and just an impressive array of experience and chops. You can just see them pointing to the crowd as they play this live. ‘Feel The Fire’ nicely steps back into more traditional metal with a chunky, choppy riff and that bass heavy gear. It’s got a real heft to it and I swear I think I’m 14 again and leafing through the NWOBHM single racks in my local store. It sticks with me nicely too. ‘Love Beyond The Grave’ (no, they are never going to win awards for original titles) has a weird but excellent Rainbow vibe to the lyrical rhythm before the lower gear refrain once more hits that sweet traditional metal spot. ‘high Noon’ hits the gas smoothly and is just a bloody joy to hear to be honest; ‘Make no mistake I am the law in this town!” The drumming powers everything here courtesy of Frank Gilchrist’s hammers, with that urgent bassline and some cool twin guitars (Nick Lee the other one).
Nay this is just excellent pure heavy metal. High energy, zero fucks, euphoric escapism played with utter conviction.
‘Before This Time’ though is where that 50 minute run time hits. This is I guess supposed to be a kind of power ballad , just without the power and at times so saccharine Sonata Arctica could have penned it. Nope. Pass. I was hoping ‘Higher’ would pull me out of it but with a prog tinged opening before the power metal riff hits and despite the drumming and bass trying to keep some grit it only just breaks free of the previous track for me. Not bad, just a little less than the palate cleansing slap that was needed.
Title track time, a little look back to times that never existed. It’s odd. It’s kind of like Wolf back in Evil Star times (in fact you get a little turned around when you go back to Thundersteel and realise it’s obviously the other way round – Wolf definitely listened to these guys) just with very USA lyrics. Kinda fun to be honest. Neat and with some excellent guitar work bursting free too. Yeah, back on track.
So we hit the ‘Open Road’ aaaand back to the mid paced, cliché ridden soft power metal diversion. This would be Styx doing their heavy song (though go and listen to ‘Too Much Time On My hands for them successfully trying heavy). It’s a fat no from me I’m afraid.
‘Mortal Eyes’ thankfully brings back that Rainbow gone metal urgent feel and again the vocals are just so on point. The guy has a fine set of pipes indeed. ‘Lost Dreams’ stays in this vein and should have graced the soundtrack of one of those classic 80s straight to VHS classics. Just fantastic heavy metal with soul and passion and hooks and melody for miles. ‘Lean In To It’ sounds exactly as the title suggested it should; slow, thumping metal rising to the powerful chorus exhorting you to not give in. And ‘No More’ closes with speed and melody and again that utterly classic US metal sound; smooth melody, driving riff and yeah, maybe veering a little too much into the power metal but it’s still a cracking end.
There you have it. Trim out those two terrible soft metal tracks and maybe ‘Higher’ and you have an absolutely cracking 40-minute album of classic metal from heavy through power to speed played with a joyful soul and could add an extra point to the review.
They can still teach the youngsters a thing or two no doubt. Well worth it to feed to your metal heart.
(7.5/10 Gizmo)
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