Riot V are an American heavy metal band carrying forward the legacy of Riot, founded in New York City by guitarist and principal songwriter Mark Reale in the mid-1970s. The original group developed from hard-edged melodic rock into one of the formative names of American heavy metal, beginning with Rock City in 1977 and continuing through Narita, Fire Down Under, Restless Breed and Born in America.
After a period of inactivity, Riot returned with Thundersteel in 1988. Featuring vocalist Tony Moore, bassist Don Van Stavern and a faster, more technically demanding sound, the album became a landmark of American power and speed metal. The Privilege of Power followed in 1990, while later releases including Nightbreaker, Inishmore, Sons of Society, Through the Storm and Immortal Soul demonstrated the band’s ability to move between melodic heavy metal, hard rock and high-speed power metal.
Following Reale’s death in 2012, longtime members Mike Flyntz and Don Van Stavern continued the band under the name Riot V, marking a new chapter while preserving the music and songwriting tradition established by their founder. The renewed group released Unleash the Fire in 2014 and Armor of Light in 2018, introducing Riot’s catalogue to another generation of heavy-metal listeners.
Their most recent studio album, Mean Streets, arrived in 2024. Combining the melodic character of the early records with the speed and precision associated with Thundersteel, the album confirmed Riot V as an active continuation rather than merely a retrospective tribute. Across five decades and numerous lineup changes, the Riot and Riot V catalogue has remained an important bridge between American hard rock, traditional heavy metal and US power metal.
