Search - Riot :: Through the Storm

An uneven effort

L. B. Ivarsson | Rock City | 01/31/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"So, some say it sounds like Rainbow - it doesn't! The guitar playing has nothing in common with Blackmoore's, it's a totally different style. It doesn't sound like UFO either without the exception that Riot has included a UFO cover. Regarding the singer some claim that he sounds like Joe Lynn Turner, but I don't think the comparison is striking. Think of Iron Maiden when the first song begins - it's very similar to the guitar riffs Maiden usually play. Sometimes during the listening I also get to think of Black Sabbath with Tony Martin...I believe this album has 3 really great heavy metal tunes with good arrangement and harmony: "Turn the Tables", "Through the storm" and "Burn the sun" - all top quality! Then there is 2 decent ones: "Lost inside this world" and "Chains"; 1 rather good cover: "Only you can rock me", and 1 boring semi-ballad called "Let it show". I don't know what Riot try to do with a song like "Essential enemies" - a modern approach? Well, it doesn't work, and the same goes for "To my head". We also get 2 instrumental tracks at the end, and although it's good guitar playing it doesn't get me excited.If you got lots of money to spend on records and you're a fan of more traditional heavy metal I think this one would please you - the 3 best songs are really great! A few more songs of this calibre, and I would give this one 5 stars... And by the way, if you like this one I advise you to buy Pretty Maids "Red, hot and heavy" - you won't be disappointed!"

Riot - releases another world class production

J. Jones | San Francisco | 12/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After another excellent release I continue to wonder the reason Riot does not receive more attention from the world of hard rock. Mark Reale's musicianship has been, and continues to be, on par with the most respected guitarists of the genre. Mark's compositions on "Through the Storm" are no exception; each song is an amalgam of expert timing, arrangement, and harmony, and if you are a fan of rock songs with soloing guitar this album will certainly delight. My picks are tracks 1,2,4,7, and the tribute instramental to George Harrison."

Over the Riot

Nicole Emery | Brussels Belgium | 11/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"RIOT releases here a very good RAINBOW album.Is it because of Bobby Rondinelli's presence on the drums or did he join the band because the compositions remimded him of his glory days with Ritchie Blackmore...I don't know but still we can't deny that this album is a good collection of HARD ROCK-HEAVY(?)songs with Blackmorian riffs, solid drumming and (this is why only four stars) a Joe Lynn Turner type of voice...(Ok not that annoying!).
The comparaison might be easy, but -for me anyway- if you take all the good ingredients from the late rainbow albums, speed them up a bit and throw the ballads away, that makes a pretty good album.
And this is what RIOT did with this one.
Glad to hear good classic Hard Rock in 2002!"