Riot
Immortal Soul
Rating
Style: Heavy Metal/Power Metal
Release date: 31 October, 2011
Playing time: 55:00
 

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!


Tracklist

01. Riot
02.
Still Your Man
03.
Crawling
04.
Wings Are For Angels
05.
Fall Before Me
06.
Sins of the Father
07.
Majestica
08.
Immortal Soul
09.
Insanity
10.
Whiskey Man
11.
Believe
12. Echoes

Label: Steamhammer/SPV
Distribution: Playground Music
Artwork rating: 55/100
Reviewed by: Thomas Nielsen
Date: 26 November, 2011
Website: www.riotrockcity.com