To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ”ThunderSteel”, the sixth studio album by American cult legends RIOT, Metal Blade Records prepared this remastered reissue of the recording plus bonus tracks titled “ThunderSteel [30th Anniversary Edition remastered +6]“. Here’s as requested this very good quality digipak, quite hard to find.
Disbanded in 1984, at the second half of the Eighties RIOT were in need of a comeback. The fans asked leader Mark Reale for it, to give the world a polite-but-firm reminder that earlier efforts weren’t just flukes, and that his intrepid cult following hadn’t started worshiping a golden calf.
Featuring a revamped lineup with the exception of mainstay Reale, the ‘new’ Riot took a different direction; the original bluesy hard rock was changed in favor of classic US metal, quite technical yet always melodic.
“ThunderSteel” appeared in 1988, and Riot surprised with a mix of Impelliteri, Steeler (Yngwie), Keel, Burning Star, etc, and even some Dio and Accept-like speedy riffs.
The title track is an absolute 95 MPH racing number with a terribly catchy riff. The solo is long in the classic US metal arena vein, the bass work by Don Van Stavern is notable as is the precision drumming by Bobby “The Zombie” Jarzombek – Mark Edwards of Steeler and Lion fame also play drums on several tracks.
Tony Moore’s voice soars high and clear over everything, a very ‘classic metal’ singer.
“Fight Or Fall” continues the frantic pace. “Fight or fall, in the name of the children, fight or fall in the name of us all” screams Moore, and he means it too.
The more moderated, Deep Purple-riff monster “Sign of the Crimson Storm” turn things more hard rock, but then you’ve got an anthem of rebellion and non-conformity at warp speed like “Johnny’s Back” in the running.
“Flight of the Warrior” has memorable ‘metal’ choruses and plenty of amazing lead work, while the heavy ballad “Bloodstreets” is a gem, including clean guitars into the mix and some Keel feeling.
“Run for your Life” is an upper mid-tempo crusher with tons of great lead guitar work, but it’s true charm is the chorus, which reminds me a bit of the high/low vocal interchanges that you hear on Dio’s early material.
“Buried Alive (The Tell Tale Heart)” is actually a bit reminiscent of Crimson Glory’s work on Transcendence, which came out the same year that this did. You’ve got a rather odd spoken intro with a clean and somber guitar line, followed by some brilliant twin guitar soloing and strong vocals.
As bonus tracks we have really interesting versions of “Bloodstreets (Alternative Ending Version)” and “Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart) (Alternative Ending Version)”, very different. There’s also some live songs recorded ’88, not the best sound quality though.
So if you like your classic 80s US metal – with cheesy lyrics and one of the worst cover artwork in history – yet plenty awesome guitar solos / riffs and over the top vocals, this remastered reissue of Riot’s ‘ThunderSteel’ is a must. Very nice packaging including full lyrics and rare photos.
Highly Recommended
CD:
01. Thundersteel
02. Fight Or Fall
03. Sign Of The Crimson Storm
04. Flight Of The Warrior
05. On Wings Of Eagles
06. Johnny’s Back
07. Bloodstreets
08. Run For Your Life
09. Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)
10. Bloodstreets – Alternate Ending Version
11. Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart) – Alternate version
12. On Wings Of Eagles – Live 1988
13. Flight Of The Warrior – Live 1988
14. Johnny’s Back – Live 1988
15. Thundersteel – Live 1988
DVD
“Thundersteel” Live in Halletsville, Texas, 1988
01. Fight Or Fall
02. Fire Down Under
03. Sign Of The Crimson Storm
04. On Wings Of Eagles
05. Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)
06. Flight Of The Warrior
07. Outlaw
08. Bloodstreets
09. Run For Your Life
10. Drum Solo
11. Johnny’s Back
12. Swords And Tequila / Blues Jam
13. Guitar Solo
14. Thundersteel
“Thundersteel” Anniversary Shows
(recorded October 24th and 25th, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan)
01. Narita
02. Fight Of Fall
03. Sign Of The Crimson Storm
04. Swords And Tequila
05. Dance Of Death
06. Warrior
07. Flight Of The Warrior
08. Thundersteel
09. Documentary & Interview footage with Masa Itoh, Japan 1989
Production Videos
01. Bloodstreets
02. Born in America
03. Restless Breed