RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT" (2018)

RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT"
(Running time: 55:30 minutes; 12 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, new load'n'dose is incoming aimed at and heading for you and this time it is or it probably will finally be another early morning post again (if I get it done now before heading off to work) and this here'n'now will be all About one hell of a brilliant and breathtaking, stunning and overwhelming album and I am talking about nothing else and nothing less which means none other album than the absolute smasher titled "ARMOR OF LIGHT" by/of the (al)mighty RIOT V released still pretty recently in this year of 2018 via the ominpresent "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" on CD and LP. RIOT V are in fact sort of the almighty RIOT in sort of their current reincarnation, so to say, and with "ARMOR OF LIGHT" they pretty much did what is maybe best described as (even maybe just pretty roughly or 'superficially') the "THUNDERSTEEL" of their new era as RIOT V and without copying this immortal'n'divine classick from back in the days (I did a tribute post to/on RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" as the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018" edition earlier this year up here, yes, so read it if you are interested in it - and you should be interested in it, definitely) but instead having created and mastercrafted with their "ARMOR OF LIGHT" a totally superb masterpiece of an album massively in the tradition of their "THUNDERSTEEL" and with delivering a damn fresh, unique, and alive'n'lively load of it straight into 2018. This is high octane full throttle no holds barred no breaks using power metallic and by at the same time damn harsh sawing and sharp cutting yet very symphonic and catchy Speed Metal fueled (U.S.) American Heavy Metal of the most supreme kind and marked by fantastic songwriting that not only makes sure to provide massive amounts of highly explosive energy and highly ever movable'n'moving dynamics ongoingly all the time but that also shines and excels completly and all the time with a huge amount of great very fresh and highly exciting ideas and twists'n'turns all around the time and all along the ride down the road from start to finish and that grabs you with a very tight atmosphere and with an incredible high intensity non stopp so that this albums just kicks your ass, smashes your bones, grabs you by the throat and slaps and beats your face and head all the time from the opening tunes of "VICTORY" to the closing seconds of "RAINING FIRE" and this really over truly all the time and makes you enjoy every single speed fueled heavy power metallic hit you take second by second and enjoy this in every sense overwhelming beating really and to point it out one more time again all the damn time, yes, and RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is above all also a damn stunning heavy and harsh album, sharp cutting and precise aimed and yet also all the time so incredible symphonic, melodic and just damn catchy and filled with fantastic hooklines that it will only leave your mouth open while your breath is taken away and this all also only adds up to the 'highly atmospheric tightness' and the über-stunning intensity of this ultimate masterpiece of a damn brilliant and fucking fantastic album that's filled with all and everything and everyone overwhelming anthemic hymns from start to finish. All is then massively marked by a highly diverse and a (like also the whole songwriting in general) very multi-layered and multi-facetted guitar work that shines with brilliant riffs and a phenomenal arragened rhythm work in general while it then totally excels with loud and singing symphonic melody lines, catchy leads, and brilliant highly dynamic and energetic solos as well as absolutely amazing top-notch first-class highly charismatic and fantastic clear and clean and yet very powerful sung lead vokillz, while the massively powerful strutting and the place owning bass work and the devastating and also highly dynamic and multi-facetted drumming together with some very cool loud'n'proud 'doubled' backings really round it all up in a it all very much and strongly cultivating way. My personal favorite choices probably would be "VICTORY", "END OF THE WORLD", "MESSIAH", "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN", "BURN THE DAYLIGHT", "ARMOR OF LIGHT", "HEART OF A LION", "SAN ANTONIO", and "CAUGHT IN THE WITCHES EYE" but after the so far not mentioned "SET THE WORLD ALIGHT", "READY TO SHINE", and "RAINING FIRE" are in no way anyhow weaker attempts I can name them calmly as well, yes, simply because the whole album is filled from start to finish all the time with fantastic masterpieces of songs, point and fact. A drop-dead gorgeous artwork, strong lyrics, and a heavy bombing production-sound finally round it all up. So, okay, I think I've said enough and told you all you have and need to know and so before I now eat my breakfast and then drive to work let me close this record-review with saying that RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is an album you will definitely find in my personal best of 2018 list and if you are into the described musick and still don't know or own it then you should by any means finally change this as soon as possible. An amazing album, period.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.areyoureadytoriot.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

RIOT V - "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN" (2018, "ARMOR OF LIGHT")