Riot/Tokyo,Japan 2018

Our heavy metal warriors, RIOT, came to Japan for the 13th time (!!) in half a year (!). The latest and best live album is now available. Originally, they announced their participation in the annual autumn event “LOUD PARK 18” over a year ago, and announced a complete reenactment show to commemorate the 30th anniversary of “THUNDER STEEL”. However, in March, six months before that, he came to Japan alone. Just before the release of the new album “ARMOR OF LIGHT”, we completely recreated “THUNDER STEEL”. Although they did not withdraw their participation in “LOUD PARK 18,” it was announced that “LOUD PARK 18” itself would be cancelled. Of course, there had been rumors of cancellation for quite some time, so I thought, “That’s why I came here six months ago…” Naturally, I thought that my dream of coming to Japan in the fall would not come true…but RIOT made it happen. Although the original idea was to recreate THUNDERSTEEL with the participation of Tony Moore and Bobby Jarzombek, they came to Japan exactly as expected. This work includes the “September 23, 2018: Zepp Diver City Tokyo” performance. First of all, let’s check the schedule of arrival in Japan along with the previous one.・March 10: Club Citta Kawasaki “KAWASAKI 2018” ・March 11: Club Citta Kawasaki “KAWASAKI 2018” [“ARMOR OF LIGHT” released on April 25] – About half a year later – September 23: Zepp Diver City Tokyo [This work] All 3 performances. Last time there were two performances at Club Citta Kawasaki, which can be called the sacred place of RIOT, but this time we moved to a different location and only performed once. At our store, we have compiled the previous two performances into a super masterpiece 4-disc set “KAWASAKI 2018: THUNDERSTEEL 30TH SPECIAL IN JAPAN”, and this work is a live album that is also the final part of that. The “final chapter” is not just an afterthought. In fact, both the previous work “KAWASAKI 2018″ and this work are collections by the same recording artist. Yes, it is a superb recording by Mr. “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper”, a master familiar to metal fans. If you’ve caught your eye on this work, I’m sure you’ve experienced more than just one of Saikyo’s works, and his amazing skills are at full display, praised for being “like a soundboard” and “better than the actual sound.” Even in Japan, which is an advanced country for audience recording, he is said to be a great master when it comes to recording HR/HM. The on-set, thick core, the super clear details with zero sense of distance, the absence of surrounding noise, and yet the exquisite on-site feeling of the applause that seemed to come from far away… “KAWASAKI 2018” was also transcendental, but this work is not defeated either…or should I say, it is a super superb sound that is the highest peak even in the strongest collection full of super masterpieces. What is depicted with such a sound is the latest heavy metal live performance, similar to but different from the previous one. Last time it was a special set that focused on completely reproducing the famous album “THUNDERSTEEL”, but this time it’s a regular style. The theme is the new work “ARMOR OF LIGHT” released immediately after the last visit to Japan, and we will be able to listen to plenty of the best sets of all time. First of all, it’s a new song. The album kicks off with the killer “Victory” from the opening, and then continues with “Caught In The Witches Eye,” “Angel’s Thunder, Devil’s Reign,” and “Heart Of A Lion,” a total of four songs. Although “Armor Of Light” and “Messiah” that were performed last time were not performed, these four songs will be released for the first time in Japan this time. Combined with the previous work, half of “ARMOR OF LIGHT” can be experienced live. And everything else is just the best. Since this is their 13th visit to Japan, only new songs will be released for the first time, but the intensity increases each time they come. The balance is exquisite, with 6 songs from the Guy Speranza era (including “Outlaw,” “Tokyo Rose,” and “Rock City,” which you couldn’t hear last time), 5 songs from the Tony Moore era, and 5 songs from the restarted recent work. 7 songs including new songs. It’s sad that the Mike DiMeo era is symbolized by one song, “Angel Eyes,” but that doesn’t mean it’s a rush of special masterpieces that no other song can erase. And RIOT, who performs such a set, delivers a tremendous performance that is said to be the strongest of all time. Todd Michael Hall is truly outstanding. Although he looks exactly like Tony Moore, his vocalization is overwhelmingly better than Tony Moore himself. Previously, I was surprised that it was much more stable than Tony, but the power that can be heard at the peak is also transcendent. The amazing thing about the high-pitched singing of “On Your Knees”… Not only are they good at it, but they also have amazing dynamism that burns and melts the soul of metal. This time again, we can hear plenty of the throat that seems like it was born to sing with RIOT. This is a very fulfilling live album that brings the splendor of the masterpiece “ARMOR OF LIGHT” directly to the stage. This work alone is the ultimate metal paradise, but if you combine it with the previous work “KAWASAKI 2018”, you can complete “RIOT of 2018” with a trilogy by the same recording artist. You can have all the details of your favorite band’s visit to Japan at your fingertips…this bootleg-only experience is made possible with the finest sound. This is the perfect album as a best set live album or as the final part of three performances. Zepp Divercity Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 23rd September 2018 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (53:48) 1. Intro. 2. Victory 3. Flight Of The Warrior 4. On Your Knees 5. Ride Hard Live Free 6. Johnny’s Back 7. Outlaw 8. Road Racin’ 9. Caught In The Witches Eye 10. Angel Eyes 11. Tokyo Rose 13. Rock City Disc 2 (45:32) 1. Angel’s Thunder, Devil’s Reign 2. Bloodstreets 3. Take Me Back 4. Heart Of A Lion 5. Swords And Tequila 6. Land Of The Rising Sun 7. Warrior 8, Thundersteel Todd Michael Hall – Vocal Don Van Stavern – Bass Mike Flyntz – Guitar Nick Lee – Guitar Frank Gilchriest – Drums