Riot - Archives Volume 3: 1987-1988

Slipcase, restored and mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony, There are people out there who argue that New York?s very own Riot are possibly the most important band in the history of American heavy metal. Up to the present day and the current Riot V incarnation, the band went through different artistic periods during their 44-year career. So Riot not only put their mark on one but several metal subgenres. »Archives Vol.1« featured the classic Riot line-up consisting of Guy Speranza (vocals), Mark Reale (guitar), Lou Kouvaris (on second guitar), Jimmy Iommi (bass) and Peter Bitelli (drums). The early works culminated with the critically acclaimed 1981 proto speed metal milestone »Fire Down Under«. When new vocalist Rhett Forrester joined Mark Reale (guitar), Rick Ventura (guitar), Kip Leming (bass) and Sandy Slavin (drums) for 1982?s »Restless Breed« record, Riot took a more southern rock-tinged direction (to be witnessed on »Riot Archives Vol.2«). »Born In America« from 1983 followed a similar approach. Just like its two predecessors, »Riot Archives Vol.3« also features a wealth of unreleased recordings, e.g. interesting rough mix versions of »Thundersteel« album tracks such as ?Thundersteel? itself, ?Fight Or Fall?, ?Sign Of The Crimson Storm?, the intro to ?Buried Alive?, ?Flight Of The Warrior? as well as the classic ?Johnny?s Back? (referring to the band?s mascot Johnny the seal) and a rare instrumental rough mix version of ?Run For Your Life?. All recordings feature Tony Moore on vocals, the one and only Mark Reale on guitar, Don Van Stavern on bass and Bobby Jarzombek on drums. Maybe even more interesting for die-hard Riot fans though, » Archives Vol.3«, spanning the years 1987 to 1988, also contains demo versions of songs later to be featured on 1990?s »Privilege Of Power« record: such as ?On Your Knees?, ?Metal Soldiers? and ?Killer? (a rough version with vocals sung by a certain Joe Lynn Turner also exists in the archives). ?Exciter?, ?When Lights Go Down?, ?A Place Called Tomorrow? and ?Liar?, however, are songs not to be found on any Riot studio album! »Riot Archives Vol.3« is completed by a pro-shot 70-minute live DVD recorded on August 21st 1988 at Hallettsville Rockfest in the heart of Texas.

Tracklist:

1. Thundersteel
2. Fight Or Fall
3. Sign Of The Crimson Storm
4. Run For Your Life
5. Buried Alive Intro
6. Johnny's Back
7. Warrior
8. A Place Called Tomorrow
9. Exciter
10. When Lights Go Down
11. Liar
12. Killer
13. On Your Knees
14. Metal Soldiers
15. Killer (instrumental)
16. Keyboard instrumental
17. Fight Or Fall
18. Fire Down Under
19. Sign Of The Crimson Storm
20. On Wings Of Eagles
21. Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)
22. Flight Of The Warrior
23. Outlaw
24. Bloodstreets
25. Run For Your Life
26. Drum Solo
27. Johnny's Back
28. Swords and Tequila
29. Guitar Solo
30. Thundersteel