Year : 2018
Style : Heavy Metal , Power/Speed Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + front + Video
Size : 110 mb
Bio:
Riot V, formerly known as Riot until 2012, is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career.Riot has toured with AC/DC, Molly Hatchet, Sammy Hagar, Kiss, Vandenberg, Black Sabbath and Rush among others.Riot's sound initially started out as straightforward heavy metal, but since their 1988 release Thundersteel their musical direction has been more along the lines of power metal.In 2013, Riot V, a new iteration of the band, was launched by the surviving members, post the passing of founding member and band leader Mark Reale.Riot was formed in 1975 in New York City, New York when Kon-Tiki guitarist Mark Reale and drummer Peter Bitelli recruited bassist Phil Feit and vocalist Guy Speranza. The line up recorded a four-track demo, which they hoped would be included in a proposed compilation of new rock bands. While waiting for the project to get off the ground, they added Steve Costello on keyboards.Reale took the various demos to New York based producers Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb, who also owned Greene Street Recording Studio and the independent label Fire-Sign Records. Arnell & Loeb turned down the compilation proposal but signed Riot. The band added second guitarist Louie Kouvaris, replaced Feit with Jimmy Iommi and recorded its debut album, Rock City. After a promising start and support slots with AC/DC and Molly Hatchet, the band were unable to maintain momentum, and were on the verge of breaking up for good by 1979.In that year however, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal broke mainstream, and the band came to the attention of influential DJ Neal Kay who spread the word about them in Britain. British fans bought imported copies of Rock City which was recorded and produced by Arnell and Loeb and released on their Fire Sign Records. Encouraged, Arnell & Loeb, now Riot's managers, recorded the band's new album Narita. In the course of recording, Kouvaris was replaced by roadie Rick Ventura .Subsequent to a successful support of Sammy Hagar on his US Texas tour, Capitol Records offered Riot a worldwide deal for Narita, mostly to support Hagar. Capitol and Hagar needed a harder, younger edge to associate with him, so Riot was chosen if they agreed to support Hagar on his UK tour. Hagar and Riot had a successful tour, but Riot was dropped by Capitol as soon as they were finished promoting Hagar.Arnell and Loeb spent the remaining Capitol Records advance, while retaining important indie FM radio promotions to promote the last Riot album. Arnell and Loeb put the album on as many radio stations around the country as possible, thus raising the radio profile enough to where Capitol picked up their option for another record, which led to Riot's biggest selling album, Fire Down Under.When the record was completed some months later, Capitol turned the record down calling it "commercially unacceptable" which put the band in contractual limbo. Capitol refused to release the band from contract. A campaign was organized and financed by producers Arnell & Loeb, with fans around the world. Fans picketed the offices of EMI Records, especially in the U.K. Finally, Elektra Records reached an agreement with Capitol Vice President Rupert Perry and immediately released Fire Down Under, which then soared into the Billboard Top 100 chart.Singer Guy Speranza (b. March 12, 1956 – d. November 8, 2003) had difficulty melding his religious convictions with his role in the band and was replaced by Rhett Forrester (b. September 22, 1956 – d. January 22, 1994) for the next album, Restless Breed (1982). Though a striking frontman, any hope of a major breakthrough was sunk by a combination of Forrester's erratic behaviour on the road, a changing of the guard at Elektra, and the 1983 success of Quiet Riot's single "Cum on Feel the Noize". The next album, Born in America, (1983) was self- financed by Steve Loeb and was released on Quality Records, an independent Canadian label. A note on the reverse of the album tried to explain away would-be fans' confusion between Riot and the now No. 1-selling Quiet Riot, but support melted away, leading to the band's disintegration.Reale relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where he recruited former S.A.Slayer members Steve Cooper, Don Van Stavern, and Dave McClain (now with Machine Head) for a short-lived new band called Narita. By 1986, Reale and Van Stavern had made their way out to Los Angeles in an attempt to resurrect Riot along with former members Sandy Slavin and Rhett Forrester. Another vocalist that was tried out was Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin (Jag Panzer) who was dismissed after losing his voice on the second night of back-to-back gigs due to excess drinking. Eventually, Reale mended fences with producer Steve Loeb and moved back to New York. Drummer Mark Edwards (Steeler, Third Stage Alert) was recruited to complete the new rhythm section along with bassist Don Van Stavern, while Greene Street Studio manager Dave Harrington brought in Tony Moore (real name: Tony Morabito) for vocals. A new Riot was born. Loeb cut a four-track demo at his Greene Street Studio in Soho, NY and along with real estate maven turned rock manager Vince Perazzo brought the band to CBS Associated, who offered the band a worldwide deal. Edwards elected to leave the band as his own L.A.-based group Lion was getting signed to Scotti Brothers. He would be superseded by San Antonio, Texas native Bobby Jarzombek, formerly with Juggernaut, who cut the rest of the drum tracks for what would become the Thundersteel album, released in 1988. It was followed by the more experimental The Privilege of Power (1990), which saw the band augment their state-of-the-art heavy metal sound with horns, courtesy of the Brecker Brothers and Tower of Power. The album also featured a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow fame. Second guitarist Mike Flyntz joined the ranks for the band's 1989 Thundersteel tour of Japan where Riot maintained their strongest subsequent following. Bassist Don Van Stavern would quit the band after the US leg of the The Privilege of Power tour and was replaced by fellow Texan Pete Perez (ex-Karion).In 1992, vocalist Tony Moore left the group over disagreements with manager/producer Steve Loeb. Reale recruited newcomer Mike DiMeo, who had played with Howard Stern sidekick Stuttering John Melendez in a local band named Josie Sang, with a view toward making a more hard rock oriented solo album. Eventually, those plans were dropped and the proposed solo effort turned into another Riot album, 1993's Nightbreaker, which featured a remake of the Fire Down Under classic 'Outlaw' as well as covers of Deep Purple's 'Burn' and 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procol Harum. The following LP, the Native American-themed Brethren of the Long House (1996), which saw John Macaluso (TNT, Powermad) briefly take over for Bobby Jarzombek on drums, would mark the final collaboration with long-time associate Steve Loeb who stepped down from the production chair in 1995. All told, Loeb produced or co-produced 13 Riot albums in his 19-year association with Reale and the different configurations of Riot. For the rest of the decade Riot would maintain a remarkably steady line-up for the first time in its history, resulting in a steady output of high quality albums, i.e. Inishmore (1998), Shine On live (1998), and Sons of Society (1999). Jarzombek left again in late 1999, this time to join former Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford in his new venture Halford. Pat McGrath (Prototype, Killing Culture) filled in for Jarzombek on the following European tour before being replaced by veteran skinsman Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult) with whom the band recorded Through the Storm (2002).In 2006, Riot returned with yet another album, Army of One, featuring new addition Frank Gilchriest (Virgin Steele, Gothic Knights) on drums. It would mark the swan song with vocalist Mike DiMeo who had earlier announced his departure in order to concentrate on his work with retro rockers The Lizards after a 12-year run with Riot. DiMeo was succeeded by noted New York area singer Mike Tirelli (Burning Starr, Holy Mother, Messiah's Kiss) whose Riot live debut came in early 2005 at the band's Atarfe Vega Rock Festival appearance in Granada, Spain.Mike Tirelli took over as lead singer for most of 2005 and began touring in the states with the band. Riot with Tirelli also made an appearance in Japan both in 2006 and 2007 after being gone for more than 7 years and then ending there touring in 2007 after an extensive tour through Spain.
Album:
Sometimes when writing, some readers may ask “why the blazes does this old and fat writer hit bands that make old school Metal so hard?” So, I have to tell you: I’m an experienced Metalhead, and I’m proud of it, and I have heard bands that many of you have never heard of their existence. I know the difference between those who have the Old School blood in their eyes and veins, and some newcomers that will never understand what the sweet old Metallians lessons fully. It’s not a matter if you like the old ways (everyone is free to like it), but to play in the old ways, it’s for those who are from the old times. The proof of my words is the latest works from SAXON, JUDAS PRIEST, and now, from RIOT V (the legendary quintet called RIOT previously), the legendary juggernaut from New York (USA) that comes unleashing the savage power with “Armor of Light”.Along with THE RODS and BLUE OYSTER CULT, they are the forefathers of US Metal trademark sound: easy melodies, great choruses, a solid work from bass guitar and drums on the rhythm session, shrapnel guitar riffs and melodic solos, and excellent vocals. Ok, to you all it’s a description that can’t translate all the importance of RIOT V history, but without them, North American Metal School would be not as great as it is. We can say that their melodic and fast way of playing Metal is the root of Power Metal bands from the 80’s. Yes, I’m not exaggerating about this matter. But as well, RIOT V knows how to sound impacting and modern, to bring their musical style to our days.To give this modern heavy outfit that “Armor of Light” bears, Chris “The Wizard” Collier (the same one who worked with METAL CHURCH, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, SLIPKNOT and KORN, amongst others) was chosen, and he did a perfect work: the sound is actual, powerful and heavy and it must be, but clear in a way that the band’s aggressive and fast melodies can be understood without problems. The tunes chosen for the musical instruments are great, showing what these maniacs can do. The artwork created by MariuszGandzel shows what the band is about: they’re here not to live from their past, but to fight for their due place. They are savage in a way that will break all new comers bones!!!It’s a masterpiece that can bring tears to the eyes of those old Metallians (I confess: I’m in tears of happiness as I write these words). They came to conquer, and hymns as the powerful and melodic “Victory” (what lovely and crushing guitars, along with excellent vocals and a catchy chorus), the abrasive harmonies of “End of the World” with its fast rhythm, the wonderful and heavy guitar assault shown on “Messiah” (hear and learn, dolly Metal clones), the old Hard Rock scent presented on the melodies of “Burn the Daylight”, the excellent guitar duos and great vocals of “Armor of Light”, the fusion of a good melodic aesthetics with abrasive weight shown on “Set the World Alight” (light the world with these amazing chorus and vocals), the heavy and slow rhythm of “Caught in the Witches Eye” (a great and solid work from bass guitar and drums once more), and… Oh, give me a break, you all! This album is truly a masterpiece of Old School US Metal, a teaching for the new generations!RIOT V is another teacher from the old school that came to teach us all a lesson. A precious one, so you all must buy “Armor of Light”, and see that these guys deserve a lot of praise and respect.Another greatest moment of 2018!
Line-Up:
Don Van Stavern Bass (1986-1990, 2008-present) - See also: Evil United, ex-Narita, ex-S.A. Slayer, Pitbull Daycare, The Devil's Jukebox, ex-Mark Reale Project, ex-Seance
Mike Flyntz Guitars (1989-present) - See also: ex-Faith and Fire
Frank Gilchriest Drums (2003-2007, 2014-present) - See also: Feanor, Liege Lord, ex-Virgin Steele, ex-Holy Mother
Todd Michael Hall Vocals (2013-present) - See also: Harlet, Jack Starr's Burning Starr, Todd Michael Hall, ex-Reverence, ex-Pulling Teeth
Nick Lee Guitars (2014-present) - See also: Moon Tooth, ex-Exemption
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Victory
02. End of the World
03. Messiah
04. Angel's Thunder, Devil's Reign
05. Burn The Daylight
06. Heart of a Lion
07. Armor of Light
08. Set The World Alight
09. San Antonio
10. Caught in the Witches Eye
11. Ready to Shine
12. Raining Fire
13. Unbelief (Bonus Track)
14. Thundersteel (2018 Version)
CD2:
01. Ride Hard Live Free
02. Fight Or Fall
03. On Your Knees
04. Johnny's Back
05. Metal Warrior
06. Wings Are for Angels
07. Sign of the Crimson Storm
08. Bloodstreets
09. Take Me Back
10. Warrior
11. Road Racin'
12. Swords and Tequila
13. Thundersteel
+ Video "Heart of a Lion" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
