This is a Spanish four piece band that was founded in 1969 when three young guys met at school in Seville, the cradle of flamenco. But their music had nothing in common with Prog Andaluz (like Smash, Triana and Medina Azahara): they started to play covers from The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Guess Who. But soon after a fourth member on organ had joined and the band had changed their name from Los Tormentos into The Storm (in fact the English translation). In that time everybody was impressed by the progressive hardrock of Led Zeppelin and especially Deep Purple. The band too and decided to change their musical direction into a heavy rock sound, with omnipresent Hammond organ work by their new member. The Storm joined gigs with known Spanish rock bands Smash and Maquina! and gradually became pretty popular among the hardrock aficionados. In 1974 The Storm released their eponymous debut album, the single I've To Tell You Mama/It's Allright even reached the top in the Spanish charts! And The Storm impressed Freddy Mercury when they were support-act for Queen during one concert, the sky looked very bright. But unfortunately due to different reasons (like work overload, military service and a changing musical taste in Spain) things didn't work out as planned and foreseen. In 1979 their second album entitled El Dia De La Tormenta was released, with a new bass player, and also a new, more progressive sound, far from the hardrock on their first album. Soon after this released The Storm disbanded. On their debut album The Storm delivers mainly rock songs (including two instrumentals) featuring English lyrics, a propulsive rhythm-section, heavy guitarwork and cascades of Hammond organ (great solos in Woman Mine and It's All Right, sounds like Status Quo with Hammond), often Atomic Rooster (John DuCann line-up) comes to my mind because of the swirling Hammond organ, fiery electric guitar and exciting heavy climates. At some moments The Storm surprises the listener with interesting musical ideas, as with the long and progressive Crazy Machine (biting wah-wah guitar and jazzy interlude with outstanding Hammond work), I Don't Know (break with swinging rhythm guitar and lush Hammond) and Experiencia Sin Organo (exciting Jimi Hendrix inspired wah wah guitar work, along Atomic Rooster hints). If you love Hammond drenched progressive hard rock like Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, this band is worth to check out. ***+ Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) As I wrote earlier above, the second album is another story, with a new bass player but also with Spanish vocals, and a new musical direction, far away from the heavy and straight rock sound on their first album. On this second effort The Storm sounds more progressive, I notice elements from Dutch masters Focus and Earth & Fire. Especially in the first track Este Mundo (slow rhythm with volume pedal guitar, Hammond organ and a moving guitar solo) and Saeta Ensayo (part 2, pleasant mid-tempo beat and soaring strings). The first part delivers wonderful work on the string-ensemble and sensitive electric guitar, in a swinging rhythm and lush synthesizers. The only song that reminds me of the first album is Lejos De La Civilizacion, hardrock with strong Spanish vocals and fiery wah wah guitar. The title track and Desde El Mar Y Las Estrellas contain pleasant and varied work on guitar and keyboards with strong Spanish vocals. A tasteful progressive album, but far from the heavy sound on their debut from 1974. *** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
