Riot--Thundersteel (1988)
Rating--8.1
Fight or Fall--RealAudio Buried Alive--RealAudio
A solid album that showcases 80's power metal. The sound here is a little lighter than Priest, but still conjures up images of the masters. It also reminds me a bit of Sanctuary's album "Refuge Denied", though the guitar sound is not quite as sharp or brutal. However, the songs are very well written, and the musicianship is excellent--very strong guitar rhythms and licks.
Highlights include "Fight or Fall", "Flight of the Warrior", "Bloodstreets", "Run for your Life", and "Buried Alive".
HOT CHOPS: The vocals in "Flight of the Warrior" are superb. Also, the respective intros to both "Bloodstreets" and "Buried Alive" are excellent--"Bloodstreets" has an acoustic intro that builds up, and "Buried" is moody electric work with dialogue in the background.
BTW, I saw this disc a couple of days ago in a pawn shop for 4 bucks! It's bad enough that someone would sell it, but I think it's out of print! Blasphemy!!
TRACK LIST: Thundersteel/Fight or Fall/Sign of the Crimson Storm/Flight of the Warrior/On Wings of Eagles/Johnny's Back/Bloodstreets/Run for Your Life/Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)
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