Fire Down Under
ArtistRiot
CoverRiotFDUnder.jpg
Released9 February 1981
Recorded1980
StudioGreene St. Recording, New York City
GenreHeavy metal
Length37:35
LabelElektra, Victor (Japan)
ProducerSteve Loeb and Billy Arnell
Prev year1979
Next year1982

Fire Down Under is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Riot, released in 1981, it's the last album to feature original vocalist Guy Speranza.[1] The song "Flashbacks" is dedicated to Neal Kay, a British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the new wave of British heavy metal.[2]

The album was re-issued on CD in 1997 by the German-based High Vaultage label, utilizing a new, controversial remix by former Riot producer Steve Loeb, and in 1999 by Metal Blade Records in the U.S., this time featuring the original Elektra mix. The album was reissued in 2014 courtesy of Varèse Sarabande. All three versions contain various bonus tracks recorded for the original Capitol Records version of Fire Down Under which the band were unhappy with. Capitol dropped the band for being "too heavy" after hearing the final version subsequently released by Elektra Records.. In 2018 the album was reissued, remastered and with six bonus tracks, by Rock Candy Records.

Personnel

Band members

Production

  • Steve Loeb, Billy Arnell – producers
  • Rod Hui – engineer, mixing
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering

Cover versions and appearances

  • The song "Swords and Tequila" is featured in the video game Brütal Legend.
  • The song "Swords and Tequila" was covered by the band "Salvación".

Chart performance

YearChartPosition
1981Billboard 20049[3]

References

  1. ^ "Riot - Fire Down Under". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  2. ^ Fire Down Under (LP Sleeve). New York City, USA: Elektra Records 5E-546. 1981.
  3. ^ "Riot | Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 16, 2014.