Through the Storm

Through the Storm is a record on which Riot, around hard riffs and refined melody, sounds mature heavy metal. It places the dashing power-metal side and the lyrical melodic-metal side in good balance. Mark Reale’s guitar deftly shifts between sharpness and songcraft, showing the band’s steady ability. A record where the sure craft cultivated over a long career shines. The powerful drive of the opener “Turn the Tables” and the drama of the title track “Through the Storm” show the band’s fullness, while the aggression of “Burn the Sun,” the tension of “Chains (Revolving)” and a cut like “Essential Enemies” convey the songs’ breadth. A cover of UFO’s “Only You Can Rock Me” is also included. Its appeal is that, rather than chasing flashy change or experiment, it carefully sounds the sure style Riot has long cultivated with mature playing. Steady, high-quality songs line up. Letting you savor the calm conviction and sure melodic sense particular to a veteran band, it is a solid, fulfilling record — Mark Reale’s guitar in sharp form.