Riot – Shine On – Review

Riot

Shine On (Metal Blade)
by Martin Popoff

I must admit, I’ve really lost touch with and subsequent enthusiasm for what’s going on with Riot. Although Reale and DiMeo are an admirable team, this competent self-important churn does little for me, especially (and surprisingly) the oldies “Swords And Tequila” and “Outlaw,” which actually prove inferior to the originals, even if “Warrior” can’t help but rock. But the rest is from a different band, one that grafts Varney-carny Shrapnel to Angra and comes out the other end sorta like Manowar with chops, precision, and a Joe Lynn Malmsteen complex. Two more positives: the vocal harmonies and the axe harmonies. One more negative: the un-electric honesty of the mix.
(2828 Cochran St. PMB #302 Simi Valley, CA 93065)