It was released in the United States on June 12, 2007, through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to the band's debut album, All We Know Is Falling (2005).

received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its sound, and noted its "crossover potential".

The album was successful in the United States, reaching number fifteen on the Billboard 200 and being certified triple-platinum on April 20, 2021, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Before work began on Paramore's next album, bassist Jeremy Davis was expelled from the band due to "his lack of work ethic and participation in things that [the rest of the band] didn't agree with," according to guitarist Josh Farro.

[5] After an agreement involving the remaining three members, Davis was reinstated as bassist, and York became the band's touring guitarist only.

because during the writing process their "thoughts and emotions were coming out so fast that we couldn't control them," comparing it to a riot.

[11] The album was recorded from January to April 2007 at the House of Loud and Bennett Studios, the former was also the mixing location, while the latter was the recording place for the piano arrangements; it was produced and mixed by David Bendeth, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound Studios.

[8] The first track "For a Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic" comes from what lead guitarist Josh Farro reflects as "putting your faith in someone and they blow it."

"[8] The eleventh track "Born for This" contains the line "we want the airwaves back", from the song "Liberation Frequency" in the album The Shape of Punk to Come by the influential Swedish hardcore band Refused.

"[14] Ian Cohen of MTV Hive described the album as "classic alt-rock with a distinctly Fueled By Ramen edge.

characterized it as "high-energy/high-emotion pop punk,"[16] while AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover states "[Williams] fills the majority of her punk-pop tales with emo angst and declarations of boy woes.

The album's fourth single, "That's What You Get", was released just over a week after Paramore cancelled their European tour to work on "personal issues",[27] amidst media speculation of the band breaking up.

For the single's video shoot, Williams explained that, given the fragile state of the band, they all thought it best if they kept things low-key, surrounding themselves with their friends and family and keeping it simple.

[32] In July and August, the band went on a US tour with Jack's Mannequin, Paper Route and Phantom Planet.

[34] Jason Lymangrover of AllMusic stated "Filled with crossover potential, the songs are consistent and zippy with catchy hooks in the vein of Boys Like Girls fronted by a young Shirley Manson.

[43] Gareth Dobson at Drowned in Sound observed "At 38 minutes long, it's mercifully brief, but still manages to feel like a double album for those who endure it.

"[37] IGN's Ed Thompson stated "This is by no means a must have album and is not going to be remembered as the band's defining moment by any stretch of the imagination.

"[42] Alternative Press writer Scott Heisel commented "considering the median age of the band, the musicianship shown on Riot!

is mightily impressive...while the record as a whole may not be a home run, it's solid stand-up double that keeps Fueled By Ramen's inning alive for their next clean-up hitter.

"[35] Justin Mabee at Jesus Freak Hideout declared "While this new album may lack some of the spiritual depth that rocked their debut, the whole record retains a very positive feeling to it" Mabee commented that the band "has come a long way" with the album since they have formed.

[44] Pitchfork's Jenn Pelly in her conclusion summarized the album as "biting songs of brokenness and strength reproduced the feeling eternally: of not being alone in your pain or fury, of being out of step together—the most enduring definition of emo [Williams'] generation would offer.