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July 2025

• Laguna: The Ghost Of Katrina
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March 2025

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February 2025

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January 2025

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December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
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[ More Music Reviews ]

Laguna: The Ghost Of Katrina

Melodic Metal Rock

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 16.07.2025 | Released: 11.07.2025

Formed in 2018, and arriving from the arid desert of Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, is Laguna with their debut album, The Ghost Of Katrina. Since their inception, the quintet has establish a loyal following in their native country and the United States. The done shows with W.A.S.P., Timo Tolkki, and The Warning, and performed at significant festivals as Hell and Heaven Fest (one of Latin America's biggest rock festivals) and the infamous KnotFest.

Laguna

Laguna's music is a reflection of the barren desert from which they hail – a place where resilience and tenacity are born out of hardship. guitarist José Mesta explains: Long before it was a desert, it was a lagoon, but dried out thousands of years ago, leaving nothing but snakes and rats, yet deep down beneath the surface, water flows through the caverns of this great desert.

PFounded by hard rock and heavy metal musicians, Laguna delivers AOR-infused melodic hard rock with a metal edge, drawing the genre's European and Scandinavian roots. It's no surprise then that Finnish guitarist, producer and songwriter Jimmy Westerlund, who lives in Los Angeles, was tapped to produce the new album for the Mexican band. (Additionally, he offers some guitar work on Punk Boy.)

Speaking to the album and songs within, after the opening Intro, I could not get enough of Laguna. Years ago, when I created this site, I settled on a five-point grading scale. If I could, I would give The Ghost Of Katrina a 6/5, like Spinal Tap's amps go to 11. The song craftsmanship and musicianship across this album is fandamntastic. Every packed with energy, enthusiasm, rock rhythm and groove, strong song and vocal melody, fine refrains, and generous roaring guitar solos. All the songs are terrific, with my top picks being Ghost Behind The Mask, Living On The Line, Electric High, and Bring Back To Life. Laguna is the real deal.

All said, for a modern interpretation of classic AOR-driven melodic hard and metal rock, Laguna and their debut album is an exciting and entertaining addition to the genre. Great music, and easily recommended. Get it.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

For a modern interpretation of classic AOR-driven melodic hard and metal rock, Laguna and their debut album is an exciting and entertaining addition to the genre. Great music, and easily recommended. Get it.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

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Three decades on and still going strong is the iconic progressive rock band, The Flower Kings, founded by veteran multi-instrumentalist and composer Roine Stolt. Since 1994, The Flower Kings have been known ... [ Read More ]

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