Category: RIOT

This one was requested by one of you and it’s a real pleasure for me to seen it featured here; “Narita“, the second album by Americans hard rockers RIOT, in its ‘Remastered & Reloaded’ Rock Candy Records version.
“Narita” is a very special album to me, I grow up listening to this killer / no filler rockin’ LP spining it to death. Musically, Riot has always been ahead of their time, being in this earlier incarnation pioneers in many ways.
Although their debut ‘Rock City’ contained the first examples of a proto speed metal approach to the ever expanding spectrum of harder edged styles, “Narita” shines a bit more in the overall musical department, offering up a good mix of classic bluesy hard rock and early, traditional metal that hasn’t lost any of its punch with the passage of time.
“Narita” was really hard to find for many years. The album was actually only published in Japan and available as import worldwide until it was finally released in the US about 5 months later. It only appeared on CD in Japan years after, but became out of print in the late ’80s.
Until Rock Candy Records came to the rescue and reissued “Narita” for the first time of CD outside Japan and for the first time remastered. And yes, Riot’s “Narita” is the first Rock Candy release ever, the 001 album in their catalogue…

RIOT‘s fourth album “Restless Breed“, the first featuring vocalist Rhett Forester, has been Remastered & Reloaded by Rock Candy Records. Originally released in 1982, the record showcased a more ‘commercial’, glam hard rock sound that was raising strong in America.
The creation of “Restless Breed” followed a Riot’s period of intense activity both physical and emotional, having survived a series of knockbacks over the years that would have decimated lesser contenders.
The fact that they had recently survived several line-up changes, an underfunded UK tour supporting Sammy Hagar and bagged a spot on the 1st Monsters Of Rock festival was a minor miracle…

Now we have here the just released ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ Rock Candy Records version of Americans RIOT third album “Fire Down Under“, including 6 meaty bonus tracks.
The album is considered a big influence by many American bands to become famous during the ’80s, a blend of classic British metal / hard rock yet with a characteristic US touch.
The saying goes that you can’t keep a good band down. For New York based five piece Riot that maxim was not only true but hugely understated. Against all odds Riot fought for the right to be heard by overcoming huge obstacles and battling a ferociously indifferent industry.
That they came through the wars intact with a musical legacy and integrity to match is…