A zillion
years ago, in 1988 to be more precise, an American band called Riot released an
amazing album called 'Thundersteel'. I loved that album to bits, even if the
singer did the high-pitch thing I'm not usually a big fan of. It combined speed, melody and excellent song writing in a way that struck a nerve at the time.
Two years later,
the same band released an album called 'The Privilege of Power' which was a
tiny bit less amazing, but still amazing.
Now, a zillion years later, Riot has come together in the very same line-up that
recorded those two albums, and heureka for that! Riot founder and guitarist Mark Reale is back with vocalist Tony Moore, bassist Don Van Stavern, drummer Bobby Jarzombek and live guitarist Mike Flyntz,
and this is a godsend for wanting ears.
Just like its two predecessors with this line-up, 'Immortal Soul' is a tour de
force of power metal and classical heavy metal, and with Tony Moore back behind
the microphone, things are more than one notch better than they were with Mike
DiMeo. For me, his voice simply brings back a lot of fond memories! It's a bit
like coming home, that.
Songs Riot and Still Your Man kick off the ball in fashion with high-speed heavy
metal, only to be followed by the orientally inspired Crawling which is a bit
weird, but very cool and melodic. See, this is what I like! Diversity, variation
and good ol' quality!
'Immortal Soul' is one of those albums that makes me feel like putting on the
headphones, dig myself deep into my best armchair, close my eyes and dream heavy
metal dreams.
First class stuff!
