Uber Classics: Riot - Rock City (1977)

9 October, 2008 (23:38) | Music Videos, Uber Classics, power metal, traditional metal

The late 70’s and early 80’s in metal are often marekd by the rising tide of British metallians within the New Wave of british Heavy Metal with standouts such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Diamond Head and Def Leppard making names for themselves internationally. However, across the pond in New York City, an up and coming American band by the name of Riot were showing that the British weren’t the only ones who were re-invigorating the heavy metal scene at the time. Everyone cites Van Halen, Quiet Riot, Metallica and Motley Crue as being the stand outs at the time for American metal, and justifiably so, but Riot in their debut album, 1977’s Rock City was instrumental in re-developing American metal from the bluesy and psychadelic sounds of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to a faster, moreuptempo medium that was only just being recognized in Britain.

Infact, if it wasn’t for the rise of NWOBHM, Riot may have broken up completely never fully realizing their full potential. Instead, imports of Rock City were beginning to sell well in the Isles which put much needed wind back in the band’s sails. Following the success of Rock City internationally, the band gained recognition by touring with Sammy Hagar, radio airplay, and a swelling fan movement, which eventually landed their 1981 release Fire Down Under on the Billboard Top 100. To this day, the band is still active, having moved in a heavier direction most closely associated with modern power metal (their latest was released in 2006). They are one of the few bands surviving from the early era to have gone heavier with age.

Still, despite their impact on the American metal landscape, Riot is rarely quoted in historical contexts, yet without their hand in bringing this new, faster modern form of metal to the American market, speed and thrash metal might not have evolved the way it did.