Riot Act is Pearl Jam's seventh studio album, released on November 12, 2002 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Binaural (2000), the band took a year-long break. The band then reconvened in the beginning of 2002 and commenced work on a new album. The music on the record featured a diverse sound, including folk-based numbers and experimental tracks.
Riot Act debuted at number five on the Billboard charts. It was the band’s lowest opening on the chart since the band’s debut. The band supported the album with a politically-charged concert tour in 2003. Riot Act was the band's last album of all-new material for Epic. As of 2007, Riot Act has been certified gold in the United States.