Lebel: Atomic Fire Records
Date: May 10th, 2024
The history of the band is long, so I will just focus on a period from 2012 when the founder of Riot, Mark Reale, died. In 2013, the band was reformed and since then they are working under the name of Riot (V). This was the second reunion of the band. The first Riot reign lasted from 1975 to 1984, second from 1986 to 2012, and the third reign since 2013). The third reunion brought the band name change, when they added V on Riot, symbolically, because Todd Michael Hall is their fifth singer, who joined the band after Moore decided to focus on his family life.
“Mean Streets” is the third Riot (V) album, announced to be released in 2023, but after a delay it was finally released on May 10th, 2024.
This time, as expected, the baby seal face is on the album cover. Tior is immortalized by Gyula Havancsák. So far, at least for me, this is the best album cover by Riot, because it represents the essence of heavy metal or rock in general, as well as Riot’s philosophy. Our seal friend as a biker rides on the mean streets through the stormy night with the drink in his hand, surrounded by his buddies and a girl on the back seat. Perfect! If you are searching for a detail here, pay attention to the girl’s boob. Even Manowar would envy them on this detail.
“Hail to the Warriors” opens the album, and when you have the song title like this, you simply know you are facing another metal anthem. There is nothing more that you can do except to raise your voice and fists to the heavens and hail to the warriors. “Feel the Fire” goes a bit in the rock / hard rock direction. As bass guitar player, Donnie Van Stavern, states:
“When I wrote the music for ‘Feel the Fire,’ I wanted to bring back the early Riot rock days musically with a Zeppelin/Priest kind of vibe. The lyrics I wrote about a passionate, aggressive, love, fire driven relationship within the souls of man and woman deeply obsessed with one another. The video kind of grabs the concept with fire, aggressive lights and of course a hot woman!”
And, yes, if you watch the video, you will see that a hot woman is the main protagonist, which, luckily is not my point of interest. More for my taste is the video for the next song “Love Beyond the Grave”. While writing this song, the band wanted to create a heavier sound. And when you have established musicians who have been conquering the metal scene for over 50 years (overall and in this line-up Donnie Van Stavern as the band member with the longest experience) who obviously know their job, the best thing you can do as a reviewer is just to quote them. Guitarist Mike Flyntz said:
“I wanted to write something that was heavy as hell. Something like a mix between Judas Priest and Riot’s ‘Hard Lovin’ Man.’ I asked myself, ‘What would Reale do?'”
Bass player Donnie Van Stavern added:
“Mike wrote a cool eerie dual lead guitar intro leading into a heavy rocker riff in the RIOT tradition with a pop-ish bridge and a great heavy chorus chant.”
In the end, drummer Frank Gilchriest, who also contributed to the song’s lyrics, commented:
“On this song, we explore a macabre fantasy of forbidden love trapped between this world and beyond.”
The guys were busy, so they made another video, this time lyrics for “High Noon”. The song is an homage to Marke Reale, who was a big fan of Old West. Here you will simply fall in love with the melody and rhythm and of course Todd’s magnificent vocal interpretation. “Before this Time” slows down a bit, delivers great melody again and vocal interpretation that somehow makes me sad.
“Higher” is again, a bit heavier song with infectious melody. At 53rd second it transforms to fury, real guitar battle until Todd cuts it with his vocal. This song plays with the rhythm and melody. For them, there is no easy way. And I have to say that I have found myself in the chorus:
“Higher
I have the power to alter my fate
Higher
I want to rise and I pray it’s not too late
Higher
I have the power to alter my fate
Higher
I want to rise and I know
I know it’s not too late.”
The title song is followed by the video released on May 10th, 2024. This is another anthem. From the beginning, I simply can not decide what attracts me the most: vocals, melody, guitar riffs… But wait! Johnny (Tior)!
“Johnny law he knew our names…”
Some might say foolish or childish, but somehow I like to see him although humanized animals scare me to death.
From the “Mean Streets” to the “Open Road”, my personal favorite with a melody made for the open road and bike that rides to freedom, or as the band says, chasing dreams and fires in my soul. And again, in the lyrics I can recognize my life situation, leaving all behind, moving to another country chasing my dreams and not turning back. Life is an open road.
From this point, the next songs: “Mortal Eyes“, “Lost Dreams” and “Lean Into It” are the songs that lean into rock and for my personal taste belong to the “flat” section of the album.
And the last one, “No More”, brings back the melody and nostalgic sound. Chorus:
“Now is our time we must rise and say
No more
We will not let evil have its way
No more”,
Although the album contains 12 songs packed in near 52 minutes, you have no impression that it will cross the border and go to a critical boring zone thanks to the band’s energy, a lot of hooks, infectious melodies, versatility and overall masterful performance.
The biggest impression if we put aside the music, lyrics, production, and all the standards we are trying to cover in the reviews, is that Riot (V) or by the names: Don Van Stavern, Mike Flyntz, Frank Gilchriest, Todd Michael Hall and Nick Lee are keeping the memory of the legendary Mark Reale.
