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RIOT V
Mean Streets

Atomic Fire (2024)
Rating: 7.5/10

The moniker may be modified, the cover art more contemporary and the line-up bereft of original members, but New York City’s Riot V (who began life as Riot in 1975) continues to rock hard, even if lead single ‘Feel The Fire’ is a bit of a mid-tempo plodder that veers towards hair metal and Judas Priest. Do not fear though, Riot V still comes up trumps as members Todd Michael Hall (vocals), Mike Flyntz (guitar), Nick Lee (guitar), Donnie Van Stavern (bass) and Frank Gilchriest (drums) put their pedal to the metal with a mix of high energy rockers and mid-tempo groovers.

Opener ‘Hail To The Warriors’ just boasts such a power metal vibe that could easily be a leftover Manowar cut. For further potency ‘Mortal Eyes’ and ‘Lost Dreams’ provide plenty of punch, while ‘Lean Into It’ harkens back to classic Riot of the past, even if it sways with a commercial edge.

Sure, a small number of tracks don’t quite hit the spot, for example, ‘High Noon’ seems unremarkable, but the band serves up plenty of richness and steel to compensate, especially with title cut and the melodic ‘Higher’. I also devoured the crunch of ‘Love Beyond The Grave’, proof that there is a good mix of stuff here powered by Hall’s exquisite range and the axe team of Flyntz and Lee.

Mean Streets is an all round good egg of an opus with only a sprinkling of dips.

Neil Arnold

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