Reale relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where he recruited former S.A.Slayer members Steve Cooper, Don Van Stavern, and Dave McClain (now with Sacred Reich) for a short-lived new band called Narita. By 1986, Reale and Van Stavern had made their way out to Los Angeles in an attempt to resurrect Riot along with former members Sandy Slavin and Rhett Forrester. Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin (Jag Panzer) handled vocals for a short time but was dismissed after losing his voice on the second night of back-to-back gigs due to excessive drinking. Eventually, Reale reunited with producer Steve Loeb and moved back to New York. Drummer Mark Edwards (Steeler, Third Stage Alert) was recruited to complete the new rhythm section with bassist Don Van Stavern, while Greene Street Studio manager Dave Harrington brought in Tony Moore (real name: Tony Morabito) on vocals. Loeb cut a four-track demo at his Greene Street Studio in Soho, New York and along with real estate maven turned rock manager Vince Perazzo, brought the band to CBS Associated, who offered the band a worldwide deal. Edwards elected to leave the band as his own Los Angeles-based group Lion was getting signed to Scotti Brothers. He was superseded by San Antonio, Texas native Bobby Jarzombek, formerly with Juggernaut, who cut the rest of the drum tracks for what became the "Thundersteel" album, released in 1988. It was followed by the more experimental "The Privilege of Power" (1990), which saw the band augment their state-of-the-art heavy metal sound with horns, courtesy of the Brecker Brothers and Tower of Power. The album also featured a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow fame. Second guitarist Mike Flyntz joined the ranks for the band's 1989 "Thundersteel" tour of Japan where Riot maintained their strongest subsequent following. Along with hiring tour manager Joey Batts who toured with them through the U.S and Japan. Bassist Don Van Stavern quit the band after the US leg of the "Privilege of Power" tour and was replaced by fellow Texan Pete Perez (ex-Karion).