For those not in the know, the highly anticipated debut album from Riot Act, the band initially formed by former classic era Riot members Rick Ventura and Lou Kouvaris, is titled Closer To The Flame, which is sure to please fans of the late ’70s, early ’80s era of Riot as well as fans of classic hard rock everywhere.

The album also comes with a 12 track bonus CD of classic 1979-1981 Riot tracks now all re-recorded. Indeed, these recordings feature the final ever recordings of Lou Kouvaris, who tragically passed away of Covid 19 in early 2020.

Riot Act features former Riot guitarist Rick Ventura, talented lead vocalist Don Chaffin, Paul Ranieri on bass and Claudio Galinski on drums. Ventura was a member of the classic lineup of Riot from 1979-1984.

The deluxe double album set will be released April 1st, 2022 in Europe and April 15th, 2022 in the US and Canada on Global Rock Records.

CD 1: 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

This vibrantly powerful, aesthetically solid new debut album opens on the free-flowing rock n roll of the title track Closer To The Flame and the guitar-driven beauty Wanted and backs those up with the drum-led, rock melodies of the ’80s-imbibed Straight For Your Heart, the countrified rock-hop of Smoking Gun and then comes the atmospherically-charged, AOR balladry Almost There.

Up next is the pounding foot-tapper Stand Or Fall which is itself followed by the classic rock n’ roll rhythms of Love Come Round, the jangling guitar work of one of my own personal favorites, Angelina, the album rounding out on the forthright, fervent rock of Right Between The Eyes, coming to a close on the drum-led, throaty, Zeppelin-esque rock of Rock Love And Roll.

CD 2: Classic Riot songs (re-recorded) from the first 3 Riot 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

Next up we get some classic and now re-recorded Riot songs, all from the first three Riot albums, which open on a totally rockin’ pair of beauties in the form of Rock City and the drum-led 49er and then comes the layered guitar work of Swords And Tequila, the drum-boned structure of the thunderous Overdrive, and then we get both the AOR, mid-tempo balladry (of sorts) of No Lies and the melodically crashing guitar rock of Tokyo Rose.

Up next is the thigh-slappin’ ’80s-charged Warrior and the storytelling rock of Don’t Hold Back and the loudly expressive White Rock, with the album rounding out on the subtly Celtic-embedded rocker Outlaw, the full speed ahead vibe of the aptly-named Road Racing, coming to a close on the booming Altar Of The King.

“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.” - Official Band Statement

The original Riot was formed in Brooklyn in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. They were then and still are a criminally underrated and influential band (Metallica and Iron Maiden have been big fans of Riot for decades) that endured its share of hardships throughout the years, while also attaining a level of success, respect, and a devoted fan base along the way.

Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 1980s as they rode the crest of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era (a movement which helped to lift the popularity of many heavy metal bands of that era on an international level) Riot enjoyed success with its biggest selling album to date, Fire Down Under, which peaked at #49 in the Billboard Top 200 in 1981 and is considered one of the landmark hard rock albums of that era.

Despite numerous personnel changes over the years, the original Riot had continued recording and touring success until its breakup in 2012. Ventura’s last album with Riot was 1983’s Born in America. Various incarnations of Riot have recorded and released 16 studio albums over the years.

Riot was officially re-launched in 2013 as Riot V (spoken as Riot 5) and has released two studio albums. Riot Act formed in 2019 and, with the release of Closer to the Flame, is looking forward to carrying on the legacy of Riot circa 1977-1983 along with establishing itself as a musical force in-its-own right.

Both bands have a friendly relationship and support one another’s musical efforts.

Riot Act - “Stand or Fall” [Official Video]

Riot Act - Performing “Rock City” Live at The Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame (with Satriani, Vai, Tate, Poland, Englen, Guesualdo) [Video]

Official Website

Amazon CD Purchase Link

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