RIOT ACT – Closer To The Flame (2022)
“Closer To The Flame” is the highly anticipated debut album from RIOT ACT, the band initially formed by ex classic era RIOT members Rick Ventura and Lou Kouvaris, a full length studio recording which is sure to please fans of the early ’70s / early 80’s era of RIOT as well as Montrose, Y&T, Tesla, Rival Sons, and fans of classic hard rock everywhere.
The release also comes with a 12-track bonus CD of classic Riot songs re-recorded by RIOT ACT. These feature the final ever recordings of Kouvaris, who tragically passed away of Covid-19 in early 2020.
This is one of the best ‘classic hard rock’ music we heard in recent time; the RIOT ACT original songs have that ’80s lovely feeling, and the classic RIOT songs like ‘Rock City’, ’49er’, ‘Swords And Tequila’, ‘White Rock’, etc, are timeless pieces of pure US hard rock very well re-created.
Rick Ventura said: “Riot Act’s new album is a culmination of emotions over the past two years. From the excitement of our early rehearsals, to the loss of our band mate, struggling through a pandemic and not knowing if we were going to continue, the four of us knew that the band had much to offer. The result of that renewed energy is “Closer To The Flame” and with joining forces with Global Rock Records we are ready for the world to hear this new music we have been working on for so long.
He continues; “Wanted” was the first original track recorded when we decided to go forward as RIOT ACT. It captures the energy and drive of the band and our roots.
Our very good friends and brothers in in Riot V of course continue the latter day heavy metal evolution of Riot onward, while as Riot Act we aim to recapture the early Riot sound of the 1977-1983 band and bringing that into a new era. Further illustrating the “Riot members of all eras are family” ideaology Riot V guitarist Mike Flyntz is a special guest on the record, laying down a killer solo on the track “49er”.
RIOT ACT original songs on “Closer To The Flame” come straight from the classic hard rock songbook, with a vocalist, Don Chaffin, sounding ‘classic bluesy’. There’re riffs and hooks aplenty, it all rocks and there’s little doubt seeing them ‘live’ would be a rockfest.
Among the highlights ‘Angelina’ creates that vintage atmosphere, the fast rocker ‘Right Between The Eyes’ swirls like Riot circa 1981, whereas the bluesy ‘Straight For Your Heart’ is catchy and infectious.
Highly Recommended
CD 1: RIOT ACT : Closer To The Flame
1. Closer To The Flame
2. Wanted
3. Straight For Your Heart
4. Smoking Gun
5. Almost There
6. Stand Or Fall
7. Love Come Round
8. Angelina
9. Right Between The Eyes
10. Rock Love And Roll
CD 2: Classic RIOT songs (re-recorded) from the first albums
1. Rock City
2. 49er
3. Swords And Tequila
4. Overdrive
5. No Lies
6. Tokyo Rose
7. Warrior
8. Don’t Hold Back
9. White Rock
10. Outlaw
11. Road Racing
12. Altar Of The King
Rick Ventura (ex Riot) – guitar
Don Chaffin – vocals
Paul Ranieri – bass
Claudio Galinski – drums
Lou Kouvaris (ex Riot) – guitar on Disc 2
guest:
Mike Flyntz – guitar solo on “49er”
BUY
napalmrecords.com/english/riot-act-closer-to-the-flame-cd.html
WOW…… the re records of the classic and for me much better ealy stuff are absolutely awesome!!
Very faithful to the origanals….. with a better production and a little more snarl to the crunchy guitars. New singer has a very similar timbre to the legendary Guy Speranza, so these really hit the mark.
New stuff is ok too… but back to back with the classic re records makes you rralise how great those old songs are….full of energy and pizzazz ……
Hope Riot Act continue…….