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[ More Music Reviews ]

Stormwarning: Stormwarning

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 14.03.2023 | Released: 17.03.2023

As his story goes, Santiago Ramonda first intended to be a guitarist, only to discover he was more inclined to singing. Ramonda would later take singing lessons from fellow Argentinian and vocalist Ivan Sencion (Humanimal, Jerikó, Watchmen), who was skilled in hard rock and heavy metal. This led to performing with tribute bands as well as recording some of his own renditions of classic rock. This would include cover of songs by Styx, Whitesnake, The Police, Depeche Mode, and Joe Lynn Turner. (You can check some these videos on Ramonda's YouTube page.) There's little doubt that Ramonda is a huge fan of classic rock and more.

Santiago Ramonda

It was Ramonda's cover of Turner's Prelude/Endlessly that caught the attention of Heaven & Earth guitarist Stuart Smith, who passed it on to Frontiers Music. Impressed, the label teamed the vocalist with the Brazilian duo of Sergio Mazul (Semblant) and Marcelo Gelbcke (Landfall), the team behind Icon Of Sin. With songs at the ready, Stormwarning with Ramonda at the mic was born.

Turning to the music, Stormwarning is an album inspired by classic melodic hard rock and metal and wrapped in AOR viability. The songs are large and long on the essentials: song melody and harmony, rock rhythm and groove, catchy refrains, and big guitar solos. Some listeners may her some metal edge also. For his part, Ramonda is a skilled performer, singing clean and melodic and allowing his voice to carry song melody and harmony. While these things make for the perfect classic rock mix, I found myself in a musical conundrum. I wasn't sure what I liked more, the vocals or the music. Thankfully, they're perfectly woven and inseperable.

Speaking to the songs, for things that turn more upon AOR melodic rock, listen for Sweet True Lies, Horizon Chase, and Question Of Time. Upbeat rockers are found with Satellite Falling, Call Of The Wild, and the fast paced Last Trip To Eden. Some metal edge comes forward Neon Skies and Eye Of The Storm with its razor sharp riffs. Finally, a traditional ballad arrives with Lovers In The Dark, starting more softly only to rise midway and deliver a fine guitar solo.

All said, Stormwarning, featuring new Argentinian singer Santiago Ramonda, finds the vocalist in his best musical context: singing classic, and well-crafted, AOR melodic hard rock. If you're a fan of the genre, you will enjoy this album. Easily recommended.

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Stormwarning, featuring new Argentinian singer Santiago Ramonda, finds the vocalist in his best musical context: singing classic, and well-crafted, AOR melodic hard rock. If you're a fan of the genre, you will enjoy this album. Easily recommended.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]

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