ALBUM REVIEW: Riot City – Electric Elite

RIOT CITY are back with their second album of true Heavy Metal worship, out via No Remorse Records on October 14th.

High speed metallic fury opens the record with a scolding array of masterful riffs, crisp drumming and noisy bass to deliver an assault of epic and contagious melodies. The lead playing is stunning and the rhythmic side flawless, Riot City are back to attack. Ripping vocals soar with unmatched energy while the instrumental side does not let them down, everything feels busy but not showy. As a band they are refined and hard-hitting, working in unison to deliver crushing heaviness through the old school methods of anthemic, raging and pure Heavy Metal. The sheer force of the percussion and bass is monstrous, while the razor-sharp leads and blitzkrieg riffing is enough to stand its own ground, the united force of Riot City is impeccable. I love it when an album cuts the fat and drives straight into pounding the anvil with killer songs from the get-go, Riot City does exactly that.

If you can somehow not find the furious gallops of blazing Heavy Metal on display here enticing, then turn away, because Riot City do not compromise. No, we continue to delve into the genres glory days, without cashing in on any other artists music. This feels genuinely classic, like Judas Priest or Mercyful Fate while offering plenty of creativity that cannot be ignored. The blending of those ice-melting vocals and blistering guitars with unfaltering rhythmic battery is so intoxicating while the actual execution feels wild and rampant. The production is crystal clear, but natural which aids the quest for untainted music, as does the eye-catching cover art. The balladic opening to “Ghosts of Reality” doesn’t even slightly take away from the adrenaline of the performance with its more brooding qualities due to an impeccably building venom of the track which peaks in the form of fantastical ferocity as feral as ever. Marching onward, there is no weak link as these chains flail in the wind, carried on the wings of the archaic gods of steel.

Clearly the result of endless hard work that pays off. Riot City have not rushed out some lame product of nostalgia cash-in. Far from it, this is a timeless record that is like a time capsule of the things Heavy Metal should centre around. The quality of the songs speak for themselves, something which cannot be faked nor ignored in this case. Across the eight pieces, we see a metallic journey forged in steel that is exhilarating to witness unravel. Each of the tracks is something special and memorable, tying together to conjure an epic conquest of tyranny and triumphs that should excite any headbanger. Occasionally sombre tones to the riffs give some well-earned contrasting moods and elevate the dynamics so that the rupturing force of ironclad barbarity feels so damned savage. Although (and potentially influenced by my position as a guitarist) the riffs and solos may be the centre of my attention span, there is no denying the absolutely crazy skills of the drummer whose busy and varied playing is truly gorgeous to hear. Similarly, the bass player has plenty of flavour that dares to step out of mere root-note copying. Needless to say the singers leather-clad lungs will rip the flesh from your bones. As I mentioned earlier, they don’t feel like a set of people trying to outdo each other but a refined force to be reckoned with in delivering pure unbridled excellence.

This is real Heavy Metal, reigning triumphant for an eternity. Riot City proves that the methods of old are not dead nor even remotely tired. A triumphant slab of stone-cold stoicism that does not ask, but demands respect. Grab your leathers, studs, bullets and chains and prepare for a siege of frenzied metallic hellfire that will grasp you from start to end. Riot City prove beyond doubt that they are the “Electric Elite” eluded to in the album title.