[Magnatune : we are not evil] [Free trial: only $15 per month] [login] [info]
Riot Kings by Riot Kings Riot Kings : Riot Kings.
When music rocks, riot kings rule!.


The Riot Kings' self-titled album starts with a massive hard-hitting punch and doesn't let up the whole way through. "Death Valley" kicks off this masterful production with a slight Rob Zombie vibe and then vocalist Kent Johannesen lets loose with the vocals. He sounds a bit like the singer from Systematic, a rather good band that never got the acclaim it should have. His voice is strong, the musicianship is solid, and the opening track is an excellent introduction into the world of Riot Kings.

"Save Me" starts with a guitar riff that positively screams. The rhythm of this piece is headbanging material all the way. The rest of the band falls into place behind that killer guitar and the vocals in this track are rather diverse, coupling rock with a bit of rap. Kent pulls it off exceedingly well. "Save Me" is a wonderful creation of various different influences such as Soundgarden and perhaps a touch of Pantera.

"Killing Time" gives us a dose of some serious funk. This piece leaves the listener with no doubt whatsoever that Riot Kings mean business. Crossing multiple genres, "Killing Time" graces us with funk, punk, and rock'n'roll. The instrumentation is phenomenal, the vibe is brazen and bold, and the listener gets a very clear idea that this is a band capable of transcending musical boundaries.

"Killing Time" fades out slowly and takes us gently into "The Past", which features some fantastic piano work. The listener may be lulled into a false sense of reverie, perhaps thinking that this is going to be a love song, or maybe a slow ballad. Nope. "The Past" is just as hard as the rest of them, and now the bass player gets to show what he's made of. The bass line is what carries this tune and Faith No More comes to mind, especially when the vocals kick in and Kent belts out his lyrics with a Mike Patton-esque delivery. The distortion used on the vocals adds a twisted touch to this song that is perfect.

Moving right along, "Hypocrisy" begins with a synthesizer and a spacey sort of riff that is a new twist on this journey. They quickly revert back to the norm of heavy guitar, strong vocals, and tight musicianship all around. However, while this piece isn't that different from the rest of the album, there is certainly a darker vibe to this track and Kent's vocals bring to mind Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge. He really expands his range in this song and the listener may have more appreciation for what a fantastic job this band does to deliver their music to the masses.

"Holy Christian Bible Rocket" is another Funk Rock number that gets the feet tapping and the head banging. It starts off with out-of-this-world sound effects before Kent steps in with his unique way of delivering rock music with a rap touch. He can scream one minute and rap the next and he does both equally well. "Lift Off" is a continuation of "Holy Christian Bible Rocket". There is funk to this track as well, more so than any of the other tracks, and Riot Kings once more prove that their diversity and talent is unmatched. "Lift Off" is an extremely short tune and it is the perfect compliment to the preceding track.

"Guillotine" begins with sound effects suggesting Nine Inch Nails, but that is where any semblance ends. Once the music starts and Kent begins to sing, the vibe is punk all the way, but there seems to be a slight Metallica influence in the guitar work. Riot Kings have mastered the art of combining so many different genres and influences that punk coupled with Metallica should surprise no one, although it should make listeners aware of the sheer breadth of talent that this quartet possesses. "Guillotine" is an excellent example of the culmination of the musical experience that is evident within this band.

Riot Kings obviously have the talent, skills and experience to go far with their artistic endeavors. Not a band that is easily overlooked or forgotten, they will be around for quite some time, keeping the rockers of the world happy.

- Review by Rhonda Readence


Songs:

1. Death Valley
2. Save Me
3. Killing Time
4. The Past
5. Hypocrisy
6. Holy Christian Bible Rocket
7. Lift-Off
8. Guillotine

Listen to: the entire album.


License When music rocks, riot kings rule! by Riot Kings for your project.
Play the music of Riot Kings in your restaurant or store.

Release date: 7/4/2012
Riot Kings lives in Connecticut USA

Tagged as: Hard Rock, Metal


Recommended albums:
  1. Evil Must Die by My Woshin Mashin: Crossover-Electronic, Chaos-Pop
  2. The In Between by Anton Cosmo: rock superstar to be
  3. Sounds Of Chakras by Satori: healing, meditative ambient new age
  4. Santa Take the Night Off by Emma Wallace: angst-free modern ragtime
  5. Journey Into Subconscious by Satori: healing, meditative ambient new age
  6. Relaxation Spa by Magnatune Compilation: the best music from Magnatune
  7. Ambiencellist Part II by Claire Fitch: ambient cellist
  8. Traces by Jesus in Japan: a reflective voice in a noisy world
  9. Second Sight by Jami Sieber: enchanting cello compositions
  10. Eric 2 by Eric Kamen: Urban Flamenco
  11. Public Service Announcement (Instrumental) by The Proper Authorities: pulse-pounding, booty-shaking rock
  12. Et Cetera by Roe: A journey into the deep, beyond the bounds of ambient music
  13. Sangita by Fernwood: Music played by hand on instruments made of wood
  14. JS Bach Trios on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
  15. Designer Bliss by Suchita Parte: ancient Indian songs in a modern blend
  16. Collectors of Souls by Chiwawa: He who sings thinks no evil
  17. CD1 The Sowebo Concert by Jay Kishor: Music without preservatives
  18. Only a Tronic Selection by Ambient Teknology: upbeat underground with shades of new wave
  19. Amber by Jay Kishor: Music without preservatives
  20. We Live Lies by macabro: mechanical flowers under the electric sunset

Downloads:
  • MP3: High quality MP3 variable-bit-rate files. Most people download these: they are audiophile files that play everywhere.
  • ALAC: Perfect quality Apple Lossless format files. If you use iTunes or an iPod, get these. They're an exact audio copy of the original CD, and include the CD artwork and artist info. This is the same format as High Definition audio provided by the iTunes store.
  • AAC: High quality Apple Audio Codec files. If you use iTunes or an iPod, these files sound great and include CD art and artist info. This is the standard format provided by the iTunes music store.
  • WAV: Perfect quality WAV files. This format works everywhere, and is an exact audio copy of the original CD. It sounds fantastic. Album art and artist info is unfortunately not possible with this format.
  • FLAC Perfect quality open source FLAC files. This is an open source audio format. It is an exact copy of the original CD, and includes CD artwork and artist info. Works great on Linux, VLC and many audio players based on open source.
  • OGG: High quality open source OGG files. This is an open source audio format. It is a compressed (smaller file size) version of the original CD, and includes CD artwork and artist info. Works great on Linux, VLC and many audio players based on open source.
  • 128k: Medium quality 128K MP3 files. These are medium audio quality MP3 files that will work on every device. The audio quality is good enough for most uses. These files are intended for cases where you want to conserve disk space.