Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Riot
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release: 2002
Length: 51:16
Rating: 3/5
With “Through The Storm” the band has once again gone at it with its good old tried-and-true recipe. That is, classic primal melodic heavy metal. Classic, hm…well. These guys were riffing way back in the seventies, before NWOBHM even exploded. Already in the seventies they were fusing the exceptional melodicism of classic three-part harmonies into gorgeous, polished, expressive riffs.
The crystal-clear, classic textbook lesson in metal from the Reale/Flyntz guitar duo, whose style is closest to none other than NWOBHM, is fantastically crossed and balanced with hard rock elements. The production delivers a live sound. The band has gone through a lineup change. One Bobby got replaced by another Bobby. That is, B. Jarzombek, who defected to Halford, was replaced by a true legend, B. Rondinelli, a guy who’s been practically ever-present on the music scene since somebody coined the word “metal”. The dude has spent his days with Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow and Black Sabbath (and that’s not even all of it). It’s like he’s been breathing with the band for an eternity. He clicked great with the guys and, with his playing, helped give birth to a gorgeous new neoclassic from these legends.
The crossfire of electric guitars from both players naturally has the final say. The tried-and-tested, energetic guitar duo, carefully locked in, once again triumphantly serves up a rich palette of cohesive motifs built on expressive, meticulously honed and polished riffs. The two guys keep embellishing things with three-part harmonies and perfect passages, or just drop a riff, which, combined with the pure hard rock vocals in the vein of D. Coverdale delivered by M. Dimeo, keeps the record nicely varied. The duo stands out for its refined feel for weaving heartfelt guitar solos into the songs. That goes for the 10 new tracks and a cover of the giants U.F.O. (“Only You Can Rock Me”), which sound convincing once again. “Let It Show”, with its impressive acoustic intro, is by its structure the most strongly hard rock-flavored of the bunch.
“Chains (Revolving)” with its sad chorus is an especially sweet treat for the ears. “Isle Of Shadows” is a classic Riot move, exactly what I was expecting. A Celtic instrumental, full of pomp and glory, basically. The band bids farewell with one more instrumental (“Here Comes The Sun”), where the guitarists shine on acoustic guitars with a splendid weave of motifs. The band could cash this in without a problem for some Eastwood film soundtrack, something like “Unforgiven”. Worth adding is the tasteful use of keyboards, which hold the songs together and lift the atmosphere, e.g. in the title track. Riot can also sound aggressive and sharper, as they serve up with “Essential Enemies”, where Dimeo sings through an effect in the pre-chorus. This colorful drama is the atmospheric peak of the record.
Riot stay loyal. Riot are a proven story of experienced, battle-hardened old foxes. Still, “Through the Storm” is a much, much softer album compared to some raging, rebellious screamer of the band’s like “Thundersteel” (1983).
Lineup
Mike DiMeo – vocals
Mark Reale – guitars
Mike Flyntz – guitars
Pete Perez – bass guitar
Bobby Rondinelli – drums
Production
Mark Reale & Mark Orofino
Track list
1.Turn The Tables
2.Lost Inside The World
3.Chains
4.Through The Storm
5.Let It Show
6.Burn The Sun
7.To My Head
8.Essential Enemies
9.Only You Can Rock Me
10.Isle Of Shadows
11.Here Come The Sun
Album length:51:38
