Nightbreaker is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Riot. It was the band's first release with vocalist Mike DiMeo, as well as the studio debut of guitarist Mike Flyntz and bassist Pete Perez.

Nightbreaker
Original Japanese edition cover
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 22, 1993
RecordedGreene St. Recording, New York City, 1992–1993
GenreHeavy metal, speed metal
Length56:34
LabelSony
Combat Pay
Rising Sun/SPV
ProducerMark Reale, Steve Loeb
Riot chronology
Riot in Japan – Live!!
(1992)
Nightbreaker
(1993)
The Brethren of the Long House
(1995)
European edition cover
1999 US edition cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal7/10[2]
No Life 'til Metal(favorable)[3]

The album was released in Japan by Sony Music in 1993, in Europe by Rising Sun Productions in 1994, and finally re-issued in the United States by Metal Blade Records in 1999, all with different cover artwork. A very limited run of CDs, bearing the Combat Pay Music label and utilizing the Japanese artwork, was also produced in 1993 by the band's management.[4]

"Burn" is a cover of the title track of Deep Purple's album of 1974; "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is a cover Procol Harum's hit single of 1967; "Outlaw" is a re-recorded song from Riot's 1981 album Fire Down Under.

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Soldier"Mark Reale4:54
2."Destiny"Mike DiMeo, Mike Flyntz4:42
3."Burn" (Deep Purple cover)David Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice6:01
4."In Your Eyes"DiMeo, Reale4:34
5."Nightbreaker"Reale4:12
6."Medicine Man"Reale5:36
7."Silent Scream"DiMeo, Reale, Flyntz5:07
8."Magic Maker"Reale5:10
9."A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Procol Harum cover)Keith Reid, Gary Brooker4:59
10."Babylon"DiMeo, Reale5:05
11."Outlaw"Reale, Guy Speranza6:14

Japanese edition bonus track edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Black Mountain Woman"Reale5:07

1999 US edition bonus track edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Faded Hero"Reale5:32

Note:

  • On the European Rising Sun Prod. pressing, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is replaced with "I'm on the Run" (4:56)

Personnel edit

Band members edit

Production edit

  • Steve Loeb – producer, executive producer
  • Rod Hui – engineer, mixing

References edit

  1. ^ Boldman, Gina. "Riot Nightbreaker review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 366. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  3. ^ Waters, Scott. "CD Gallery - Riot". No Life 'til Metal. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "Riot - Nightbreaker". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved January 11, 2012.