Immortal Soul

The dream Riot line-up is back together, and one would inevitably start dreaming of the coveted, finally worthy, follow-up to "Privilege of Power", to put an end to the mythical trilogy in the band's career, left unfinished early in the 90's due to Tommy Moore's untimely departure. While the others have kept themselves in a relatively good shape, releasing albums more or less regularly with Riot and other acts, Moore himself could raise some doubts, the man having taken a prolonged absence from the music scene eversince his leaving Riot, except for the one album he made with the heavy/power metal act Faith and Fire (also featuring the Riot guitarist Mike Flyntz) in 2006, although that band's laid-back style doesn't require (the band is still active) any striking vocal pyrotechnics.

Well, all fears should be left aside once the opening "Riot" hits, seeing Moore in a great shape handling all registers with dexterity last witnessed on the aforementioned "Privilege of Power". That same track is a smashing speedster, which will make some of you look for tissues and handkerchiefs, with nostalgic memories of the title-track from the grandiose "Thundersteel". One could hardly think of a better beginning for this effort, and later on there are quite a few numbers which reach that intensity: the very next galloping delight "Still Your Man"; the sweeping speed metal classic "Wings Are For Angels" with "echoes" of "Storming the Gates of Hell"; the fiery proto-thrasher "Sins of the Father"; the "eagle fly free" hymn "Insanity"; the uplifting power/speed metal closer "Echoes". The balance is seamlessly achieved with the other, more laid-back, side reflected in awesome heavy/power metal anthems, like "Crawling", "Immortal Soul", "Whiskey Man", and last, but not least, the very good ballad "Fall Before Me", which is not exactly "Runaway", but is still a compulsive listen all the way with the memorable chorus and the jumpy rhythm.

Mike Reale has seldom sounded so inspired; his performance is simply amazing: soulful, lyrical, melodic, aggressive, chuggy, funky, you name it. His gorgeous leads alone can easily throw half the musicians from the Shrapnel catalogue out of the window on any rainy day. Moore is almost as convincing as he was back in the good old days, although it's obvious that his delivery would not be as adventurous, and he would not risk his voice too often in the very high parametres; at least not until his vocal bravado from the old days comes back fully. So, does this so hotly anticipated album fulfill the expectations? By all means, and goes even beyond that. Not only does it sound like the most logical continuation to "Privilege of Power", but it also gives such a huge breath of fresh air to the classic heavy/power metal scene, that it makes all the recent newcomers (Enforcer, Sabaton, Portrait, etc.) sound like mere apprentices.

Since the other veterans (Iron Maiden keep repeating their over-ambitious progressive infatuations to very mixed impressions; Judas Priest are in such a creative cul-de-sac since Halford's return, that even a conceptual work built around the trendy at present Mayan prophecies would not help them much at the moment; and Scorpions said firm "no" to heavy metal with their more recent albums) were not able to restore the "father of all metal genres" to its glorious status from the past, here come one of the "underdogs" of the old scene to do that in flying colours.

This is the good old heavy/power/speed metal, plain and simple, done exactly the way we all love it, and will continue to love it. So let's turn up the volume, let's try to hold those tears of nostalgy for the times when we were a "restless breed", let's raise the pints high, and let our sons and daughters hear what once made our days brighter than an August sun. Cheers!