RIOT – Army Of One

Riot is nothing less than an institution in Metal. They rocked the nations for 29 years (ooh, wait a minute – next year’s Army Of One tour is a 30th anniversary tour! Maybe fans can expect a very special setlist?) since the release of their debut album Rock City in 1977. Despite several changes in line-up, they hardly ever disappointed their fans, although their history is marked by considerable changes in style. Easy Hard Rock from the first albums was replaced by fast, gripping, riff-oriented, but still Melodic Metal on their famous 1981 Fire Down Under album. At that time, this was a landmark that should stand in a straight line with other 1981 classic albums like Iron Maiden’s Killers, April Wine’s Nature Of The Beast, Saxon’s Denim And Leather, and Ozzy’s Blizzard Of Oz.

Later, they changed vocalists and Rhett Forrester, who was shot a few years ago, but recorded two albums with them, steering back into a more Hard Rock oriented direction. After a short break up, they reinvented steel in 1988 with Thundersteel, again with a new singer named Tony Moore. That guy also fronted them when they released their most avantgardistic, Progressive and unusual album to date, The Privilege Of Power. In retrospect, this is a gem which is highly underrated and introduced wind instruments in powerful Prog compositions like “Killer,” and had high speed orgies like “Dance Of Death” and “Storming The Gates of Hell” side by side with little rockers like ”Little Miss Dangerous” and “Runaway.” Ingenious. And, of course, commercially disastrous.

The logical consequence was another change in style, which came with another new singer, Mike Dimeo. He stayed until today, and that marks the longest period Riot continued with one vocalist. Also, since the changes in style mostly occurred when the band worked with another singer, it means they perfected their current style over the years, and fabricated a sound that is characteristic and positively unique.

Riot fans should therefore already know what to expect and put Army of One right next to the other albums with Mike Dimeo: Through The Storm, Sons Of Society, Nightbreaker, the brilliant duo The Brethren Of The Long House, and Inishmore. because a handful of songs would do well on each of the releases mentioned. Riot includes the fast, melodic tracks fans love to scream their lungs out to like “Army of One” and the album highlight “The Mystic,” as well as stomping rockers such as “Blinded,” and melodic Rock songs that miss the zeitgeist by miles like “One More Alibi” (or is THAT the album highlight?).

What all songs reflect is the wonderful voice of Mike and Mark Reale’s warm guitar sound. Both are a treat for your ears, especially on the last two songs, the positively Schenker-esque instrumental “Stained Mirror,” which reminds of MSG’s brilliant “Courvoisier Concert,” and “Darker Side Of Light.”

The main difference Riot lovers will find is that Mike Dimeo has found interest in the Blues, as shown in “Knockin At My Door” and “Helpin’ Hand,” and also in David Coverdale, as exemplified by “Shine” – this one makes you immediately think of Whitesnake’s 1987 album!

With only one substandard track, “Still Alive,” there just isn’t much to complain about. This is again another really good Riot album, just second to masterpieces like Privilege Of Power, Thundersteel, Fire Down Under, Brethren of The Long House, and Inishmore. Sounds like number 6 out of 13. With a history of quality steel delivered by Riot, that indeed is quite some praise!