| Musical Style: Power Metal | Produced By: Chris Collier |
| Record Label: Nuclear Blast | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: Riot V |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 55:30 |
Every hard music enthusiast knows the Riot legacy is large and legendary. That legacy is inescapable when factoring the New York based power metal acts longevity, which traces to the mid-seventies, peaked in the early eighties and continues to this day. As with any band surviving such an extended span, Riot has faced its share of adversity, including roster turnover and passing of key members such as vocalists Guy Speranza and Rhett Forrester, whom combined to front its first five studio albums. It was the tragic loss of founding member and guitarist Mark Reale in 2012, however, which led to the groups latest incarnation, Riot V, with the ‘V’ added to its moniker when re-launching a year later to represent the fact this is its fifth era, or more specifically to honor the number of vocalists to grace its lineup.
Enter that fifth vocalist in question, Todd Michael Hall, with whom this review is concerned. Beginning his Riot V tenor in 2013 after replacing departed fourth vocalist Tony Moore, Michael Hall initially fronted the groups 2014 Steamhammer Records comeback effort Unleash The Fire followed by its spring of 2018 Nuclear Blast sixteenth album Armor Of Light. If the Armor Of Light title is not enough to get your attention then the albums liner notes will, as Michael Hall openly thanks ‘God for everything’ while also stating ‘may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and keep you’. Of the albums twelve tracks, Hall contributes lyrics to eight, many of which openly reflect his faith. One reviewer that suggested ‘there appears to be a veiled evangelistic bent running through (Riot V) these days’ had the right idea!
In terms of specifics, Michael Hall brings a high end and classic tenor vocal style perfectly suited for the classic US power metal meets traditional heavy metal sound instinctive to Riot V. If I were to invite comparison, he walks a fine line between the soaring range of Rey Parra (Sacred Warrior) and emotional vestiges not unlike David Taylor (Jacobs Dream) but when lowering his register he can also reflect upon Steve Walsh (Kansas). If other ‘high pitched’ vocalists such as Vett Roberts (Recon), Norm “Ski” Kiersznowski (Faith Factor), Eli Prinsen (The Sacrificed) and Lance King is your cup of tea, then I can see Riot V and Armor Of Light being right up your alley.
Before moving on to the individual song breakdown portion to the review, I would first like to thank the reader who not only brought Armor Of Light to my attention but sent a CD copy as well.
It is the Michael Hall lyrically penned cuts in which this review is going to focus, beginning with showcase track “Messiah”. What we have is a keyed up and frenetic four minutes somewhat akin to Sacred Warrior’s “Children Of The Light” (off Rebellion), with needed ingredients in the form of non-stop double kick drum, soaring ‘Messiah, save us from the flames’ falsettos for the refrain and dual harmony leads gracing things instrumentally. Lyrically, this one is self-explanatory:
Birthed when lightning struck the sky
Offspring of a sacred line
His arrival marks the battle
Soldiers by his side
His coming was long foretold
In the ancient texts of old
He will free us from the darkness
Brings us into Light
Albums title track tempers initiative in comparison (even if slightly) in upholding some European power metal vestiges. The double bass penchant maintains itself, with a big Theocracy style melody leading the way alongside tons of imposing grace and class and the neo-classical guitar aspects to match. As you might have guessed, spiritual warfare is the subject at hand:
Deep in the depths of all our yearning hearts
There’s a fire to behold
Put on your helmet and take up your shield
Wrap yourself in a breastplate of gold
Free yourself
You won’t fear the dark of night
When you ride
In the armor of light
“End Of The World” evens things out with its melodic power metal traces, as tightly woven guitar harmonies and elegant vocal melodies trade off with occasional heightened outbursts of the Riot V rollicking rhythm section. The smooth sophistication at hand speaks of Theater Of War era Jacobs Dream. Some light End Times themes permeate lyrics:
Just like you, I want to hold on
To all the things that soon will be gone
My heart is hanging low from the sense of loss
Desperate times call us to act
Separate the wheat from the chaff
The salient things must rise and the rest be tossed
“Ready To Shine” explores the mid-tempo but with guitar rhythms with a Blind Guardian like feel (as found in its graceful verse sections) and backing vocals pointing towards Queen (noting the lithe refrain). A corresponding dramatic semblance rises to the forefront in a song that speaks of the salvation experience:
Then one day I raised my eyes
A new door came to light
Found the strength to walk through
Into a new life
Yeah, into a new life
Finally, I realized
The power’s inside
My fears are left behind
I’m ready to shine
Lush, full and warmly tinctured, “Set The World Alight” takes a more melodic heading than some songs here, or at the very least does not present with quite the same guitar driven focus. Of course, accept this as observation as opposed to critique in that its finesse filled polish and galloping mentality allows it to separate at the same time. Lesson learned is turning loss into gain:
Suddenly I feel a flood of energy
I awaken to new light
I’ll turn my loss into someone else’s gain
And set my mind to a new fight
Rise, gather all my strength and rise
From the wreckage
Watch, while I set the world alight
My favorite might be “Heart Of A Lion”, which as its title suggests is a metal tribute to Richard The Lion Hearted. With its Impellitteri bent to rhythm guitars, the song scorches through its honed verses - He could have lived his life. Using stone walls as a shield. But Richard preferred the glory. Found out on the battlefield - and gallantly driven refrain: Born the son of a king. His passion was undying. A relentless warrior. With the heart of a lion. This is epic Medieval battle metal at its finest.
Of the album remaining six cuts, ”Victory” amalgamates a catchy chorus with plenty of Iron Maiden influenced rhythms and “Angel’s Thunder, Devil’s Reign” a heightened bass focus not unlike Barren Cross’ “In The Eye Of The Fire” (off Atomic Arena). Hearkening back to the groups hard rock roots are “Burn The Daylight”, playing up albums most immediately recognizable melody, and “Caught In The Witches Eye”, with a bluesy metal focus not unlike that of Red Sea. “San Antonio” further plays up the bluesy elements but in a more traditional form. “Finally, “Raining Fire” closes things as an all out speed meets power metal barnburner.
Production, as one might imagine from a group of Riot V’s pedigree, proves a strength with drums forwardly placed in the mix and plenty of separation to allow individual instruments to stand out. As for cover art, it features the signature Riot V mascot (better known as ‘Johnny’), which with a seal head affixed to a muscular Conan the Barbarian style body, looks like the type of creature typical to a Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. The cover art to the as noted Unleash The Fire even goes so far as to portray ‘Johnny’ with a metal arm not unlike that of the Winter Soldier. Where do they come up with this stuff?
Musically, Armor Of Light is what I always expected The Sacrificed to sound like or what Jacobs Dream will have to stretch to become (again) - or more specifically it sets the high standard for any potential future album from Sacred Warrior to feature Rey Parra. Lyrically, it by no means is a Christian album and Riot V is not a Christian band, so I want to head off any misconceptions in this regard either way. That said, Riot V does include a believing vocalist in Todd Michael Hall, whom because of imprinting his faith on several tracks, makes Armor Of Light certain to be of interest to those following the Christian hard music scene.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Victory” (4:40), “End Of The World” (5:10), “Messiah” (4:20), “Angel’s Thunder, Devil’s Reign” (4:41), “Burn The Daylight” (4:48), “Heart Of A Lion” (3:52), “Armor Of Light” (4:36), “Set The World Alight” (4:52), “San Antonio” (3:50), “Caught In The Witches Eye” (4:56), “Ready To Shine” (5:01), “Raining Fire” (4:45)
Musicians
Todd Michael Hall - Lead Vocals
Mike Flyntz - Guitars
Nick Lee - Guitars
Don Van Stavern - Bass
Frank Gilchriest - Drums
