With the October 11th release of metal band RIOT's classic 1981 album, Fire Down Under, Audio Fidelity launches its new Target Series imprint, designed to broaden the company's audience beyond its longstanding and loyal audiophile base. Audio Fidelity, via the affordably-priced Target Series, will be reissuing a number of classic albums in the coming months on both CD and vinyl formats, meticulously re-mastered by the company's acclaimed audio engineers, Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray.

Fire Down Under, considered by many hard-rock fans to be the New York-based band's best, will be reissued on traditional vinyl with its original artwork and will be available at both online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Riot, founded in 1976 by guitarist and songwriter Mark Reale, has now spent more than three decades as a hard-rock institution. But Fire Down Under, the group's third album and its commercial breakthrough, achieved iconic statue by almost not making it out of the gate. The record was deemed unsatisfactory for release by Capitol Records, Riot's original home label. Only when contractual differences were ironed out between Capitol and the band's next label, Elektra Records, did Fire Down Under see release, in February of 1981.

Some have cited the album as one of the more impressive metal offerings of the '80s-the decade when the genre made its heaviest creative and commercial impact. A tight program of first-rate songs (all Riot originals) performed at an unrelenting pace, the album was recorded immediately following the band's barnstorming tours with AC/DC and MOLLY HATCHET.

Standout tracks include 'Swords And Tequila', 'Outlaw', 'Altar Of The King', 'Feel The Same' and the breakneck title song. Reale's and Rick Ventura's fiery guitar work provide most of the album's punch, though singer Guy Speranza lends much to the terse, powerful proceedings, as do drummer Sandy Slavin and bassist Kip Leming-all of whom contribute to the songwriting. Producer Steve Loeb's credits also include engineering Public Enemy's best-selling Fear of a Black Planet album.

Fire Down Under was chosen as the Target imprint's initial release, says Audio Fidelity founder and president Marshall Blonstein, because it fits with the direction the company plans to take in expanding its market beyond the audiophile community it has served since 2001.

"Over the years," he explains, "many music fans have contacted us to suggest we put out various records that, for one reason or another, didn't make sense as releases aimed exclusively at the audiophile market. The idea behind Target allows us to answer their requests by issuing these titles as conventional CDs and on traditional vinyl at a more favorable price." Generally, Target releases will retail for between $14.99 and $19.99 and will be available just as widely at the same outlets as Audio Fidelity's 24K Gold CD and 180-gram virgin vinyl audiophile releases.

Blonstein emphasizes that Target Series titles will meet the same high standards that have earned Audio Fidelity its distinctive reputation.

"Our audio engineers, Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray, will do the mastering," he says, "just as they do on Audio Fidelity releases, which guarantees top audio quality."

A full release schedule for the Target imprint is currently being firmed up.

Founded in 2001, Audio Fidelity specializes in deluxe reissues of classic popular-music recordings for the audiophile and collector markets. The Camarillo, California-based label is best known for its 24-Karat Gold CDs and its 180-gram virgin-vinyl album editions, as well as a line of popular DVD titles.

Due to complications from Tony Moore's emergency oral surgery, Riot is disappointed to announce that they will not be able to appear with HAMMERFALL as previously scheduled.

A routine dental checkup discovered a deeply infected root canal, and the infection had spread to the jaw and surrounding teeth. The only option was immediate surgery to remove the tooth, as well as a portion of the infected bone tissue, and to perform a large graft with healthy bone from the surrounding area.

Says Tony: "During the initial examination, my doctor gave me a puzzled look and then asked the question that put fear in my heart: 'Are you in a lot of pain?' I was then informed that I would be if this procedure was not performed ASAP. After the surgery, I was made aware of the extent of the bone graft, and the risk of dislodging fragments of implanted bone should I resume normal activity too soon. I was put on a liquid diet and limited to bed rest for several days, then informed that because of the location of the surgery, singing was out of the question for four weeks. As I write this I still have stitches in my mouth and have to limit my physical activity. The recovery period essentially wiped out any hope of sufficient practice time for a Riot setlist, and full recovery takes four months before the tooth can be replaced. We discussed all the options we could think of, the last of which was to perform the final 10 dates of the engagement with minimal practice on my part. In then end, though, everyone agreed that going out with my voice at any less than 100% would have compromised a show for which some fans have been waiting many years. With heavy hearts we made the only viable decision; to withdraw from the tour."

Riot continue: "The entire Riot organization would like to apologize to our record label, SPV, and thank them for supporting our decision. We have been assured that future European dates will be announced as soon as the appropriate schedule can be safely booked. We would also like to apologize to Hammerfall, who have been extremely generous and supportive throughout this process. We look forward to meeting you all in the near future.

Finally we would like to apologize to our fans and friends who have sustained us throughout the reunion. We are as disappointed as you are, but you can be assured that RIOT will visit Europe as soon as possible. We're already confirming dates for early 2012 in the US, and we plan to support the release of 'Immortal Soul' as strongly as you have supported us for nearly a quarter of a century.

A special note to our Asian fans: these events will not have any effect on our plans to perform in Japan in 2012. Tony will be fully recovered long before then, and we look forward to bringing Immortal Soul to you soon.

In the meantime, we hope that you enjoy the album as much as we have enjoyed creating it. Let us know what your favorites are so that we can bring them to you onstage next time we meet."

A last note from Tony: "I've been dying to sing this stuff since we finished the album, and being sidelined like this is a major blow. I'm doing everything I can to recover so that I can rebuild the voice you'll hear when the album is released. I know that you want nothing less. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your support and good wishes."

Riot will release their new album Immortal Soul, on October 21st in Japan via Marquee/Avalon, October 26th in Scandinavia, October 28th in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, October 31st in the rest of Europe, and November 22 in the US and Canada on Steamhammer/SPV Records.

The Immortal Soul album will be available as a limited digipack with two bonus tracks, double gatefold LP (coloured blue vinyl) and regular jewel case.

The artwork (below) was done by the band's vocalist Tony Moore.

The tracklistings for the various formats of Immortal Soul include:

Jewel case version:

'Riot'

'Still Your Man'

'Crawling'

'Wings Are For Angels'

'Fall Before Me'

'Sins Of The Father'

'Majestica'

'Immortal Soul'

'Insanity'

'Whiskey Man'

'Believe'

'Echoes'

Limited Digipak including two bonus tracks:

'Riot'

'Still Your Man'

'Crawling'

'Wings Are For Angels'

'Fall Before Me'

'Sins Of The Father'

'Majestica'

'Immortal Soul'

'Insanity'

'Whiskey Man'

'Believe'

'Echoes'

'Johnny`s Back' (live bonus track *)

'Metal Soldiers' (live bonus track*)

* recorded live at Sweden Rock Festival, June 6th, 2009, Sölvesborg, Sweden

Double Gatefold LP, coloured blue vinyl:

Side A:

'Riot'

'Still Your Man'

'Crawling'

'Wings Are For Angels'

'Fall Before Me'

'Sins Of The Father'

Side B:

'Majestica'

'Immortal Soul'

'Insanity'

'Whiskey Man'

'Believe'

'Echoes'