It’s already been 6 years since the band’s last release (“Armor of Light”), so it was about time for Riot V to come up with a new studio work. With “Mean Streets”, it’s clear that Riot V are paying tribute to their roots, and they’re here to rock us hard. They do justice to the late’s Mark Reale’s musical legacy, and I’m sure he’s proud that the guys can do so well without him leading the way.
“Mean Streets” is a pure heavy/power metal album with lots of great melodies. The musicianship is excellent as all the band members are great musicians; the rhythm guitars and leads are amazing (guitarists Mike Flyntz & Nick Lee), and the same goes for the rhythm section (bassist Don Van Stavern and drummer Frank Gilchriest), which is rock solid. In addition, Todd Michael Hall gives some of his best vocal performances. The production is heavy, punchy, and powerful. The album was recorded and mixed by Bruno Ravel (Danger Danger, TNT) and mastered by Bart Gabriel (Crystal Viper, Jack Starr’s Burning Starr, Jag Panzer). Gyula Havancsák (Accept, Stratovarius, Brainstorm) designed the artwork, which perfectly captures the new songs’ style while maintaining the band’s signature seal.
Riot V aren’t doing anything that hasn’t been done before, and they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. They play melodic heavy/power metal with an attitude that comes from the heart and will surely touch their followers and genre fans alike. For those (like me) who remember the (blood)streets of metal’s past, this was quite a metal ride! Riot V still have the metal fire burning…
