Riot - Immortal Soul [2011]

Among the endless onslaught of spectacular releases in the year 1988, an already well-traveled American hard rock band named Riot suddenly unleashed upon the world the unstoppable speed metal feast that was Thundersteel. Combining furious riffing, fast-as-light soloing, and Tony Moore's over the top, Halford-defying vocal performance, this masterpiece has been considered one of the very finest in the entire genre since its release. Its 1990 followup The Privilege of Power featured similarly superb songwriting but was largely botched by overlong, superfluous intros. This lineup disbanded and Riot went back to playing its old, bluesy style again. Ever since, however, many fans have wanted to see this group get back together and produce more music in a speed metal vein. Well, in 2011, that exact scenario has happened and Immortal Soul is the spectacular product.

Those expecting a dead on Thundersteel Mk. II shouldn't. Though there are a few balls out speed romps, Immortal Soul is also full of songs that take the mid-paced route, but that doesn't harm Riot's effectiveness to deliver simple, unforgettable melodies and choruses in the slightest. Tony Moore's commanding lead vocals certainly don't hurt a bit; he manages to give off this cool, slick charisma while throwing powerful high notes into the stratosphere. Sounding even better with layered background parts, Immortal Soul just might capture Moore at his best. The riffs are no slouch, either, no matter what the speed with which they are played. Just check the title track, "Echoes" or the classic throwback "Still Your Man" (Johnny's back, anyone?) for tunes that kill without kicking into maximum overdrive.

Oh yeah, the band still proves it still can put the pedal to the metal, too. Immortal Soul comes blitzing out of the starting gate with the band's eponymous song, a tactic that can feel cheesy and forced if executed improperly. This, however, is perfect. The song goes for the throat with blinding velocity, practically screaming, "Riot's fucking back and we're not taking shit from anyone." What's it gonna take to make you riot, Moore screams/asks? Well, this is what the fuck it takes to make me riot. "Fall Before Me" a more developed approach, astonishing with its highly catchy, emotive chorus. Straightforward rockers like "Wings are for Angels" and "Sins of the Father" lay contemporary melodic metal bands to waste, and this is a squad that's been taking no prisoners for 35 years. The jubilant "Insanity" gives off a Euro power vibe with its soaring major harmonies.

On the lighter front, "Whiskey Man" provides some amusing bluesy variation without distracting from the rest of the work. Speaking of distractions, don't let that overly computerized, gaudy cover art dissuade you; Immortal Soul is an instant classic in the making. There's not a single loser among these eleven anthems, even though it feels as if one could be omitted to ease the flow and cut down on the length of the album. Then again, I was raised on a 'ten tracks, no more' mindset for albums of this nature, so I could be biased. Nonetheless, Riot's latest is a must for anyone starved for quality American power or speed metal, and it goes without saying that fans of the band (especially of the Moore era) must hear this right away. I can only hope this lineup keeps producing even more great music for us to feast upon.

   Overall: 9/10 (Outstanding - this is what it takes)