The Privilege of Power

The Privilege of Power
Studio album by Riot
Released February 28, 1990
Recorded Greene St. Recording, New York City, December 1988 - September 1989
Genre Heavy metal, speed metal, progressive metal
Length 57:52
Label Epic
Producer Steve Loeb, Vince Perazzo, Rod Hui, Mark Reale
Riot chronology

Riot Live
(1989)		 The Privilege of Power
(1990)		 Riot in Japan – Live!!
(1992)

The Privilege of Power is the seventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Riot, released in 1990.[1] It was more experimental than their previous work, being an attempt at a concept album and also including a horn section on some of the tracks.

"Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" is a cover of an Al Di Meola instrumental track from the album Elegant Gypsy (1977). "Killer" is about convicted killer Jeffrey R. MacDonald and features a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen).

The album was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork and re-issued on 180g vinyl as a 2LP set with Thundersteel by SPV on February 25, 2013.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [3]
Rock Hard (de) 9.5/10[4]

In 2005, The Privilege of Power was ranked number 354 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[5]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "On Your Knees"  Tony Moore, Don Van Stavern 6:37
2. "Metal Soldiers"  Moore, Mark Reale, Van Stavern 6:40
3. "Runaway"  Moore, Reale 5:11
4. "Killer"  Moore, Reale, Van Stavern 4:53
5. "Dance of Death"  Moore, Van Stavern 7:17
6. "Storming the Gates of Hell"  Reale 3:43
7. "Maryanne"  Moore, Reale 4:55
8. "Little Miss Death"  Eric Mauk, Moore, Reale 4:12
9. "Black Leather and Glittering Steel"  Moore,Van Stavern 7:07
10. "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway (Revisited)" (instrumental)Al Di Meola 7:17

Personnel

Band members

Additional musicians

Production

References

  1. ↑ "Riot - The Privilege of Power". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. ↑ "SPV launch an exciting new series of catalogue vinyl releases".
  3. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Riot The Privilege of Power review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  4. ↑ Stratmann, Holger. "Rock Hard review". issue 36. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  5. ↑ [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 68. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.