The story of the Spanish band The Storm began in 1969 in Sevilla, when brothers Angel and Diego Ruiz (guitar and drums respectively), Luis Genil on organ and Jose Torres on bass, formed the band. The first self-titled album arrived in 1974, and the second “El Dia de la Tormenta” five years later, in 1979. The band’s sound is a mix of Hard Rock and Heavy Prog, earning them the nickname ‘Spanish Deep Purple.’ On February 08, 2024, the remastered version of the second album “El Dia de la Tormenta” was released via 5 Lunas Producciones, of which we offer a review in this article. The opener “Este Mundo” immediately plunges us into the sounds that characterised Andalusian rock in the 1970s. The guitar riffs intertwine with the keyboards, the rhythm section is solid and elaborate, enriched by the tempo changes and the dynamic and expressive vocals. The mixture of Hard Rock, Progressive Rock sounds and the band’s Andalusian imprinting is successful and the band stands out from others of the period for its personal and original sound. An alternation of sung parts and more Heavy, Symphonic openings, for an engaging and incisive opening, to be noted the dense meaning of the lyrics and the soloist cues. With a more melodic touch and close to Hard Rock sounds, “La Luz De Tu Voz,” is a song characterised by choral refrains. The lyrics are full of pathos, a love song in an intense Rock key, with a softer first part, then offering a lead guitar cue. With the return of the vocals for the last choral refrains the track closes. The first of two parts “Saeta Ensayo (Part 1)” is a track that shows a heavier side of the band mixed with a touch of Symphonic Prog. Good, at times riding guitar riffs, a deep, load-bearing bass line and solid drumming full of tempo changes on which the keyboards add a Symphonic touch. The first section of the song takes up the melodies of the previous one, and then develops and evolves the central theme into a long instrumental with interweaving Heavy and dreamy atmospheres. The second part “Saeta Ensayo (Part 2)” connects to the previous one with march-style drumming. The dreamy atmospheres that characterised the keyboard melodies of the previous part evolve and permeate the theme of this part. The synth is the protagonist and the band takes up the melodies of the previous one, again developing the theme over a long instrumental. The tempo changes are the added value of this track, allowing for solo guitar and keyboard interludes that add a touch of Prog and Andalusian Rock to the sometimes melancholic sound. Between accelerations and repetitions of the theme, the track flows engagingly and well developed. “Lejos De La Civilizacion” is the album’s shortest track, the band here returning to Hard Rock sounds with that unmistakable Andalusian touch of the era. The vocals have a melodic imprint, creating harmonious refrains that stick in the mind. The guitar inserts, lyrics and intense vocal interpretation also make us travel back in time to the 70s. A passage of melodic Hard Rock, with that sound characteristic of the Sevilla area. The album’s most delicate track “Desde El Mar Y Las Estrellas” is a step closer to ‘song’ in structure, while retaining the band’s own touch. Intense and melodic, with a fine bass line and interesting solo keyboard work coming in first and then guitar work. A song full of pathos with that typical late 70s sound, then increasing in intensity in the finale and ending in a crescendo. The title-track “El Dia De La Tormenta” concludes the album, continuing the melodic Hard Rock sound. An energetic and addictive yet melodic track, with the vocal playing the lead throughout, except for a guitar solo insert in the middle section. Andalusian Rock with melodic traits and guitar and synth interlacing. An album that shows different facets of the band, initially closer to Hard Rock and Progressive sounds, while in the second part of the tracklist it is more melodic. The two-part suite in the middle of the album is interesting, the band’s personal touch exploring Andalusian Rock music in its different nuances. An album that makes us travel back in time to the late 70s when this musical movement was at its peak and this band was part of it. A recommended listen for lovers of melodic Hard Rock sounds with forays into prog and a marked Andalusian Rock imprint.
Tracklist
01. Este Mundo (5:02)
02. La Luz De Tu Voz (5:07)
03. Saeta Ensayo (Parte 1) (6:53)
04. Saeta Ensayo (Parte 2) (5:43)
05. Lejos De La Civilizacion (4:31)
06. Desde El Mar Y Las Estrellas (4:40)
07. El Dia De La Tormenta (5:25)
Lineup
Luis Genil / Keyboards, Vocals
Angel Ruiz / Guitar, Vocals
Diego Ruiz / Drums, Vocals
Pedro Garcia / Bass
