RIOT V // Metal’s Maestros Reincarnate

A pivotal album in Thundersteel, a very colourful story, and an extensive history–Riot aren’t just a name synonymous with heavy metal, they are heavy metal.

As Riot V, the new name and new album, Armor Of Steel, is a homage to their endurance and their exciting past, present and future. Bassist and mastermind Don Van Stavern attests they couldn’t be what they are now without a few hurdles. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, good business, bad business,” he says. “The history of the band, since the beginning prior to when I joined the group, there’s been good and bad.”

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Not one to dwell on the negative instances of the past, Van Stavern prefers to recollect Riot V’s musical journey, dividing each imagining of the band into separate chapters by music. You might call it a quick lesson in how heavy metal came to be. “The band that started in the late 70s [had a] heavy rock ‘n’ roll sound on the first three records. Then you go to the chapter two when the band was more southern rock, hard rock. The band continues on with different members. When I joined in ‘88 we did Thundersteel–then of course the fourth chapter is when the band continued on with Mike [guitarist Mike Flyntz] and it got more of a Whitesnake/Rainbow sound.

“Now we’re doing Riot V, it’s the fifth chapter, the fifth singer, and the [fifth] style. I write in the vein of my era with Riot. It’s been good managements, bad managements, a lot of different labels and one thing about Riot I think why we can continue on is because, Mark, he used to always tell me the longevity of Riot, or any band, is the music.”

Mark Reale, founding member and long-time guitarist for Riot, sadly died in 2012 aged just 56. But his legacy lives on—the impressions, the music, the friendships, are still very much alive in Riot V and Van Stavern. “He said, ‘No matter the changes, Riot has put out different styles of music consistently and it’s been good.’ I think he was right, the band is pushing 40 years old and here we are continuing on in this form, Riot V.”

Each album, each decade, became a new skin for Riot V with the teachings and mentorship of Reale at its core. “I think we’ve learned a lot and to be able to stay modern and fresh even though the band has a classic history,” says Van Stavern. “For instance, I told you about all the changes but the music has been consistently cool. Through the years, when I first met Mark and [began] collaborating, he taught me a lot–a good melody line along with the aggressive music underneath it.

An older band with a fresher sound, that’s what we strive for so we can appeal to all the fans, young and old.
[ Don Van Stavern ]

“When I found Mark, when I was younger, I was in a band and I had a metal aggressive writing style. Mark used to tell me ‘You can make a heavy song but make sure you always have those really nice melodies and choruses that people can be singing.’ You can always have heavy music, but a real memorable chorus? We take that as a consideration when we were writing the record, we always wanna stay fresh. We wanted to make an aggressive Riot record but we can’t lose sight of who we are.”

Riot V’s new release certainly achieves the band’s goals and ideals. “We did that, I think it’s [Armor Of Light] heavier and more aggressive than we’ve been but we wanted to make a point and it’s our standalone record after the passing of Mark–it’s us portraying who we are, we’re moving forward. We’re trying to have a consistent line-up and write something with our classic feel but we also wanna compete with the Jones’s so to speak, keep up with the Nightwishes and Arch Enemies.

“An older band with a fresher sound, that’s what we strive for so we can appeal to all the fans, young and old. We try and stay fresh for a younger audience and hopefully there’ll be a Riot V, VI, VII,” Van Stavern says laughing. “Maybe my grandchildren will make Riot XX!”

Imagine it, Don Van Stavern, maestro of metal in his winter years screaming discontentedly from a wheelchair, ‘I used to be in Riot V back in the day!’ trying to tell the young ones how metal is done. “That’s not Riot, I was Riot! Shine on!” Van Stavern jokes. “Rock ‘n’ roll till you die, baby, rock ‘n’ roll till you die!”

Before we go retiring members of Riot V before their time, we should look at how Van Stavern has remained active in the band, taking the reins with songwriting and production for Armor Of Light and opening himself up to new challenges and still working with the teachings of Reale. “Like I said, back in the day when I hooked up with him, we became a songwriting team instantly.

“He would help me craft a song where he depended on me to come up with very heavy riffs because that was my background of metal. With Thundersteel [1988], we had songs called Flight Of The Warrior and Johnny’s Back where the music is aggressive but the melodies are really nice. We always wanted that kind of song structure but keep it melodic. I take that into consideration and I’ve learnt through the years that’s my style. That’s pretty much how I take things, I take what Mark has taught me but what can we do to forward the sound?

For the Riot fan, I think we achieved to please [them] and we have the edge of newer stuff so the newer fans will enjoy it as well.
[ Don Van Stavern ]

“When we did Immortal Soul [2011], Mark’s last record with the band, that was just a Riot V record–he was quite ill and only played three rhythm tracks but he was giving us the thumbs up. He would sit back and listen to it and he would say, ‘Well it’s not me but it’s Riot and I’m proud to have this record to come out,’ even though he didn’t participate. That was one of our signs to continue.

“After that album, the first we came back on Unleash The Fire [2014], it was basically a tribute. We made it half rock, half metal, and we had two ballads on there we wrote for Mark to show our appreciation. It was our send off, and that brings us to Armour of Light–now we’re continuing on our own two feet.”

In Reale’s absence, Riot V have encompassed every element of the band’s history into the new album, a true reflection of their story. “I’m proud of it and this is us moving forward–as a matter of fact the first single we released, Victory, was almost the name of the record. We also thought the lyrical content of the song itself was almost like a statement, saying that ‘We’re victorious in moving forward, the band’s new life is out there, this is a good point.’ But then we decided to call it Armour Of Light because it’s a biblical reference.

“We have a few things we’ve always been purveyors of, you know. Ride in the armour of light, good vs evil… It has some elements from all our eras and then some fresh stuff. For the Riot fan, I think we achieved to please [them] and we have the edge of newer stuff so the newer fans will enjoy it as well. Hopefully the legacy continues on and people appreciate what Riot’s conveying at this point.”

Though Armour Of Light is as Van Stavern says, a biblical reference, given the band’s tumultuous existence it may just represent their resilience and perseverance in the face of the dismal. Suiting yourselves up and arming yourselves with positive and motivation and creative gestures. “That’s what it exactly is!” Van Stavern exclaims. “In the end we’re riding in the armour of light but the lyrics, they’re cool, positive and we have fun. We sing about battles but then we’ll turn around and we’ll sing about drinking tequila, about having a good time! It’s something the band is known for–we like to write heavy music, fun music, and capturing some fans.”

Not only is it entirely refreshing to hear an album that isn’t laced with political anger, but the conversation being just about the music and positive vibes is almost something unheard of. “I’ve been a musician for quite some time and I try and convey a positive message,” says Van Stavern. “Whatever you believe in, more power to you, but one thing I’ve learned through the years is that we’re all joined in music.

“Being able to talk to you about music, laugh and have a good time, we’re pretty much the same—we love music and we love one another.”