This is Riot’s first album since 2002’s ‘Through The Storm’, and it would appear the band haven’t lost any sleep during that time, nor have they lost their creative juices either.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Riot
ALBUM: Army Of One
LABEL: Metal Heaven
SERIAL: MHV00028
YEAR: 2006
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Mike DiMeo – vocals * Mark Reale – guitars * Mike Flyntz – guitars * Pete Perez – bass * Frank Gilchrist – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Army Of One * 02 Knockin’ At My Door * 03 Blinded * 04 One More Alibi * 05 It All Falls Down * 06 Helpin’ Hand * 07 The Mystic * 08 Still Alive * 09 Alive In The City * 10 Shine * 11 Stained Mirror * 12 Darker Side Of Light * 13 Road Racin’ (Live 1998) – bonus
RATING: 80/100
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
To be honest, I haven’t been that familiar with this lot since the good ol’ 80’s. Long since gone are guys like Rhett Forrester and Guy Speranza (both R.I.P), and it is from their era that I am more familiar. A credit then to Mark Reale for keeping this band up and running and active well into the 21st century.
And it’s not as if they have been sporadic either (Boston anyone?), with a slew of albums recorded during the late 80’s and into the 90’s as well. If I am pushed to make a comparison with the current sound then a heavier TNT mixed with Pink Cream 69 would be a good start, though I am sure others would find their own comparisons.
This is Riot’s first album since 2002’s ‘Through The Storm’, and it would appear the band haven’t lost any sleep during that time, nor have they lost their creative juices either.
The Songs
The lead-off title track is a full-blast HM anthem, heavier than what you’d expect from these guys. More in keeping with their change in direction is the melodic ‘Knockin’ At My Door’. Gotta love the layered vocal harmonies on this one.
Sounding very European, ‘Blinded’ has similarities to many of the recent releases of late, while ‘One More Alibi’ could be Talisman cast-off. There is a heap of insistent riffing and metronomic drums on ‘It All Falls Down’ whilst it all gets toned down for the smoky southern mid-ballad ‘Helpin’ Hand’ which sits somewhere between Whitesnake and Tangier. Nice track.
Resuming where track 1 left off is the HM power of ‘The Mystic’, where the guitars are on full chugga-chugga alert. More southern tinged rock comes in the form of ‘Alive In The City’. Just why all the nature effects were included at the start remains a mystery.
The heaviest track here is ‘Shine’, with some vigorous double bass drumming from new boy Frank Gilchrist. The instrumental ‘Stained Mirror’ features a load of soaring lead guitar with acoustic accompaniment and backing strings/synths. very nice. As is the album closer ‘Darker Side Of Light, which again, veers toward the melodic hard rock side of the highway.
In Summary
Though the band have been album-less for a good four years, it has been a good opportunity to get familiar with them again. However it is like getting familiar with an entirely different band such is the difference that a few decades make.
The singer Mike DiMeo is a pretty impressive talent, and I see/hear through the grapevine that he has also hooked up as the new lead singer for Jorn Lande‘s old outfit Masterplan. That should be interesting.
If there is one thing to be learned in the story of Riot, it is one of unfazed and unbent commitment to hard rock without bowing to any trends through three decades. Mark Reale has seen enough trends to know that what he has with Riot will sustain them through anything. Rediscover Riot at your pleasure.
Riot on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
