Fire Down Under

Fire Down Under is early Riot’s finest masterpiece, on which Guy Speranza’s high, earnest voice layers over the hard, sharp riffs chopped by the guitars of Mark Reale and Rick Ventura. The songs are fast and aggressive, yet at their core is a somehow melancholy, beautiful melody, holding a rich depth that does not end in mere speed. A record that can be called a landmark of American heavy metal. From the overwhelming momentum of the classic opener “Swords and Tequila” and the dashing title track “Fire Down Under” to the songcraft-filled “Feel the Same,” the album powerfully pushes sharp aggression and sure accessibility at once, while cuts like “Outlaw” and “Altar of the King” convey the band’s fullness. Its great value lies in sublimating the influence of NWOBHM with an American dry texture and power. Though a work whose release was extremely troubled by contractual problems, its content gives off a universal radiance loved across eras. It is one of the finest, high-intensity masterpieces left in early American heavy metal.