It’s time for the “Swords And Tequila” again. The boys of Riot have completed a new album. This band, founded in 1976 by Mark Reale, are still on the loose. Nowadays, Reale is the sole survivor of the original band, but he has managed to keep his band on the road. Back in 1981, Riot got through to the big audience with their album Fire Down Under, of which the rumour was that it was too loud for their original label, so the release on another label was delayed.

The voice of singer Mike DiMeo, introduced in 1993, hasn’t got a whiskey “bite”, which makes the overall sound a bit less raw, but the much wider range and the soulful sound compensate more than enough.

This is the 5th album with DiMeo as the voice and front man of Riot. And although the original identity has gone lost in a more “Rainbow” -like sound, this album stands as solid as a rock. Mid, and up-tempo rockers, some good hooks, and even some Led Zeppelin influences (“Chains”), a well performed UFO cover (“Only You Can Rock Me”), some classical influences (“Isle Of Shadows”), and an instrumental version of The Beatles “Here Comes The Sun”.