Riot - Thundersteel

Riot is actually one of America's first metal bands, having formed way back in 1976 under guitarist Mark Reale. Having started out as a basic heavy metal band, they released several albums (including one particularly good one by the name of Fire Down Under) before disbanding in 1983. However, the band reformed fairly quickly in 1986 under Reale, and released this comeback album. Thundersteel took the first few albums' style a step further, and became speed metal. Excellent, twin guitar-driven speed metal heavily-influenced by Judas Priest. Some songs are blistering, almost like Painkiller. Others are more mid-paced, but there's a very noticeable intensity all the way through the album. Riot is one of those classic bands that wear their influences on their sleeve, and offer up influences for all the younger bands out there. If you like speed metal, you'll like this. Period.

Thundersteel (1987)