Last Updated on 03:28 PM by Lilliana Tseka
Riot, Mark Reale’s spiritual offspring, need no introduction to any classic heavy metal fan. They have distinguished themselves as a prominent band endowed with rare versatility, musicianship of the highest caliber, and an exceptional sense of melody. While their latest fifth era is as great as any of the preceding ones, the band continues to play a leading part in the contemporary metal scene. The unanimous praise of their headline show in the Keep It True festival earlier this year necessitated the attendance of their show.
It is always a pleasure to visit the city of Thessaloniki. However, due to an awful traffic jam I didn’t manage to arrive in time for the opening act Chronomancy. I am really sorry for missing their show. Fortunately enough, I caught the subsequent local band named Emerald Sun. They performed their compositions with enthusiasm, and actually they had a lively support by several fans. Some of the tracks they played were “Metal Dome”, “Freedom Call” (an inspired mid-tempo composition), “Speak of the Devil” and “Screamers in the Night”. Their power metal, which bears a resemblance to bands such as Helloween and Hammerfall, was a nice warm up before the headliners.
An intro using the familiar brass section from the “Storming the Gates of Hell” track as a leitmotif sounded through the speakers and made us realize the importance of the moment. Immediately after that, the double axe attack of “Narita” gave us goose bumps. One of the best live shows of the last years had just begun… Generally speaking, Mike, whose both Kramer and Gibson guitars endured forever that night, and Donnie, with his rock solid bass lines and trademark cap, were the dominant figures on stage. Nonetheless –and this should be stated with uttermost significance–, the “gentle giant” drummer Frank Gilchriest and the second guitar player Nick Lee, who has been Mike’s student from a young age, were excellent at their posts. Last but surely not least, Todd Hall performed flawlessly too, showing his extremely well-rounded voice; that guy undeniably deserves a place in the long catalogue of the great Riot singers. Although he started with a song coming from his era (“Ride Hard, Live Free”), Todd was not worse at all during the older songs, as a matter of fact he nailed it! That night Riot V performed without a single mistake no less than twenty one songs plus a reprise! The full setlist was as it follows:
Main Show: Intro / Narita (instrumental) / Ride Hard, Live Free / Fight or Fall / On Your Knees / Johnny’s Back / Hard Lovin’ Man / Metal Warrior / Outlaw / Black Leather and Glittering Steel / Sign of the Crimson Storm / Angel Eyes / Bloodstreets / Take Me Back / Flight of the Warrior / Fall from the Sky / Warrior / Road Racin’
1st Encore: Swords and Tequila / Thundersteel
2nd Encore: Altar of the King / Fire Down Under / Take Me Back
All those diamonds made the audience have no other reaction than banging their heads and dancing unceasingly, while singing along the verses. As the band was performing full of drive their material, all the people in the venue seemed to wholeheartedly approve what they were witnessing. The band was obviously moved by the embrace of the crowd, and the atmosphere was highly charged especially when Donnie gently poured some tequila on Mark’s guitar road case, so that his best friend’s immortal soul can quench her thirst. Moments like these can hardly fall into oblivion by anyone.
That night Mark and Johnny, his famous seal pet, were surely proud for the legacy they have bequeathed. On our part, we want the group to keep recording and touring with full devotion in the future, as they do in the present; forever shine on!