Review Summary: “The only way you can get good, unless you're a genius, is to copy. That's the best thing. Just steal.”
If you’re wondering to whom that quote belongs, it’s by guitar hero and innovator Ritchie Blackmore. And if you’re wondering why the man in black is mentioned in a 2015 release by a Latin American band, it’s because their guitarist is one of Blackmore’s best disciples. What separates Walter Giardino (ex-V8, one of the most influential Argentinean heavy metal bands) from any other clone is that he is smart enough to understand that the essence of Blackmore’s teachings lies on solid songwriting and catchy guitar melodies, rather than wankery and showing off. Argentinean powerhouse Rata Blanca, have literally built their successful career upon those teachings, and that’s not to diminish what the band has accomplished. In fact, their sophomore effort,
Magos, Espadas y Rosas is an album that any hard rock/Rainbow enthusiast should check.
However, gradually, Rata Blanca’s material became more predictable and the level of songwriting reduced in quality as it seemed that they had exhausted their bag of tricks on their first few albums. In a nutshell, that’s the case with the band’s latest effort,
Tormenta Electrica. Even though the album starts with a punch, eventually the quality of the song lowers to the level of filler. The songwriting is solid yet unspectacular and any sparkles are attributed to guitarist Walter Giardino’s soloing.
In addition, whereas the band’s early releases also borrowed a few elements from the first three Rainbow albums and Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force,
Tormenta Electrica draws most of its influences from
Down to Earth and the Joe Lynn Turner era-Rainbow. Therefore, it can be described as ‘80s melodic hard rock with US tendencies. There are standout moments such as the energetic title track, the catchy “Los Chicos Quieren Rock” that both feature great riffs, or the AC/DC-esque “Rock And Roll Hotel”. Moreover, “Buscando Pelea” is a solid composition and “Pequeno Angel Oscuro” is the album’s cheesy yet effective ‘80s typical ballad with an exceptional guitar solo. Nevertheless, “Revelde y Solitario” and “Senor Espectro” are both not only generic but forgettable and filler material. Also, “Tan Lejos de Aquel Sueno” is quite appealing while its first guitar solo sounds like a collage from Blackmore’s latter Rainbow-era. Lastly, “El Jugador” is unspectacular yet non-irritating while the instrumental “Batalla Persa” feels repetitive and like it’s going nowhere but the guitar solo saves the day once again.
In brief,
Tormenta Electrica is the product of a mature band that is not at the apex of its abilities but still knowledgeable enough to avoid any serious pitfalls. And while there are no “La Leyenda del Hada y el Mago” or “Mujer Amante” to be found on here, it’s a step forward compared to Rata Blanca’s previous release and an album that is bound to be enjoyed by longtime fans of the band or melodic hard rock in general.
