NUCLEAR BLAST are proud to announce the signing of cult New York Heavy Metal band RIOT V, who will be inducted into the prestigious Heavy Metal History Hall of Fame 2018!
Hardly any other metal act has such a long, absorbing history behind it. Since the quintet formed in 1975 they have been hit by several severe strokes of fate during their long career. With Rhett Forester (R.I.P. 1994), Guy Speranza (R.I.P. 2003) and Mark Reale (R.I.P. 2012) - three deceased members have left their mark on the four decades of RIOT’s band history. Since their legendary debut album "Rock City" (1977), RIOT has released numerous heavy metal classics, including "Fire Down Under" (with classics like "Swords And Tequila"), their masterpiece "Thundersteel" (1988), and the unforgotten "The Privilege Of Power"(1990).
After the death of Mark Reale and the departure of Tony Moore, Todd Michael Hall (from Michigan, USA), completed the line-up of the band, which in the meantime performed under the name of RIOT V under the auspices of the two long term members and main songwriters Donnie van Stavern (bass) and Mike Flyntz (guitar). With the critically acclaimed "Unleash The Fire" (2014), a pure power metal jewel once again underlined the musical importance and influence of the quintet.
RIOT V are busy recording the follow up to the highly acclaimed come back record "Unleash The Fire", which entered the Hard Rock 100 Billboard charts at #75 and Rolling Stone Magazine gives it a 4/5 rating, while most media including Burrn!, Rock Hard and Aardshock dubbed it album of the year! »Armor Of Light« will be released on April 2018. The new songs promises to please fans of the »Thundersteel«-era of RIOT, as main song writer Don Van Stavern undertakes a lot of the writing as he did on this album.
Todd Michael Hall (Vocals)
Mike Flyntz (Guitars)
Nick Lee (Guitars)
Don Van Stavern (Bass)
Frank Gilchriest (Drums)
