La llave de la puerta secreta

Three years after their successful return to the studio, Rata Blanca released a new album, keeping the same lineup, and refining their music more than ever before. With a similar energy that they had when they started to venture in the heavy metal scene, "La llave de la puerta secreta", an album that smells like Rainbow's best days, and walks a step forward in the adequate direction, comes out in 2005.

Showing everyone that they can recapture the magic of their most important years, without ripping themselves off, "La llave de la puerta secreta" shows itself as a very well carved heavy metal masterpiece, with a neo-classical essence, a mature hard rock orientation of the old school days, speedy approaches with surprising double bass drumming, and the perfect combination of experience (Giardino, Barilari, Bistolfi), with the tremendous dynamism of youth (Scarcella, Sanchez).

An apocallyptic intro, which is not really the best way the album could have started, (Yet it's interesting, since it's the first time the band tries something like this), is followed by "La llave de la puerta secreta", and you can see that it is a classic tune of this band (In lyrics and in music), with a remarkable resemblance of "La leyenda del hada y el mago", another classic by them, from the early 90's. Giardino's riffs reference (Once again) Malmsteen's first hits. Awesome power-metallish song, where Hugo Bistolfi adds its mythical (And vital) atmosphere, while Barilari's performance is just as brilliant as it has always been,

"La otra cara de la moneda" is a mid-paced, hard rock oriented tune, with average riffs. This is the radio friendly track of the record, somehow similar to "Volviendo a casa" (From "El camino del fuego"), but this song is way much better, since it has more depth, it's more diverse, enjoyable, complex, and it accelerates the listener's emotions to the limits. Meanwhile, the wonderful and romantic ballad "Aun estas en mis sueños" is full of dreams, love and desire, and I consider it to be a new and improved "Mujer amante", but Barilari becomes the main star of this beautiful ballad, as he sings with a passion that you can't help but to fall in love with his falsettos.

After this, the emotions cool down with average and soft "Indigo", a decent melodic song, which is managed by Scarcella's repeated drumming, and it's quite different from what the band normally plays, but it doesn't have any captivating lyrics. Anyways, "Bajo el poder del sol" rises with majesty, as this is the song with the lyrics that were spoken in the album's intro. It is just as spectacular and as epic as "La llave de la puerta secreta", and it takes the catchiness of this production to its climax, because Giardino's best skills are shown as well.

"Blues" is another homage to the legendary bluesmen who have been a very important inspiration for the band, and have defined their sound in some way. It's an electric bluesy tune dedicated to the love of any man's life, and it is wrapped with keyboards of the catchy old 70's style. "El gran rey del rock 'n' roll" is probably the low point of the album. This is a heavy rock track that I've never liked, because it's annoying as hell, and a waste of time. It mocks an Argentinian band named Los Redondos, and as a filler, it's plain, minimalistic and forgettable.

Beginning with a dark intro, "Guitarra española" is the ninth track of the album, and this is one of the best songs that the band has released in years. It features first class accoustic guitar arrangements, which are full of Spaniard influences (As the name of the song suggests) and arabic flavors. Walter blends these sounds with his amazing shreddings, while Guillermo Sanchez delivers his own bass blasts, zipping the mouths of many people who think that he has always been behind the shadow of Rata Blanca's leader. "Michell, odia la oscuridad" is a fast, generic song, with strong aesthetics, and it reminds you very much of "Señora furia" (From "El camino del fuego"), but this song is better. It's heavy, fast, and it can easily grab you, because of its catchy melodies.

"Mamma" is the last ballad, and the last song, too. This is the "apple of discord" from the album, in my opinion. While many think it's a sweet and emotional ballad, many, in the contrary, think it's shitty and that it's not a worthy song to be included inside any album of a respected heavy metal band like Rata Blanca. I don't think it's a bad song at all (There's an indescribable feeling surrounding it), but it fits more inside an album from Barilari's former project (Alianza), because of the cheesy keyboards. Nice power ballad, with a message that I totally share, Adrian shows a very rich artistic performance full of nuance, and he doesn't disappoint you like he does in "Cuando la luz oscurece", a song from their previous album.

Well... This is the band's latest studio effort so far, and I have enjoyed it as much as the rest of their discography. They have evolved and developed their sound in such a unique way, that lots of bands try to imitate them, but there's only one Rata Blanca in the whole fucking universe. Many people say that the band keeps doing the same thing over and over again, but I don't think it's true, because they haven't run out of ideas, or fallen in the mistake of recording any "rehash" from their previous hits. I think that'll never happen. Giardino and company keep their shape everytime, everywhere, and maybe they cannot surpass the quality and solidness of their first albums, (There's not a band that can actually do that), but they haven't moved away from their original sound by any means, and the roots that define their music are intact. Rata Blanca hasn't forgotten where they came from, and they have kept the flame of their music alive.

HIGHLIGHTS: "La llave de la puerta secreta", "Aun estas en mis sueños", "Guitarra española", "Bajo el poder del sol".

This album starts with a completely disposable intro; it's a guy (I don't know who the hell he is) and he says something about someone that read the sacred book and the planets will soon be aligned, and by the Holy Grial, the empires will fall under the rage of Earth... Summing it up, cliché as fuck.

Then we enter to the title track, it starts with a speedy, Malmsteen-like guitar solo, one more of the bag of solos performed by Mr. Giardino. This song is pretty good, but Walter could have worked a little better the lyrics part. Musically is a typical Malmsteen song, with much double-bass drum and the keyboards sounding as well.

The fourth track, "Aún Estás en Mis Sueños" (You're Still on my Dreams), is catchy, but with this song, the band reached the point of self-plagiarism. For many people the song should be called "Mujer Amante II".

The rest of the album shows more of what Rata Blanca is used to show us: Blackmore - Malmsteen style guitar solos, the powerful vocals of A. Barilari, the well-executed drum work by F. Scarcella, the keyboard base, epic lyrics, etc, etc, etc.

Another highlight is "Bajo el Poder del Sol" (Under the Power of the Sun), it's has the intro lyrics with music added, and the result is pretty good. It proves why Giardino is one of the best Malmsteen impersonators. Other song I like is "La Otra Cara de la Moneda" (The Other Side of the Coin) with a very nice and melodic guitar solo.

The disposable items of this album are, besides of the intro, "El Gran Rey del Rock and Roll" (The Great King of Rock and Roll), poorly developed, and with some lyrics about a legendary Argentinian band. Though Giardino denied it, the references to that band are quite apparent; and "Mamma" is a depressive closer for the record, and for that, I tend to skip it.

Although this album is far from being one of my favorites, I saw them live and they really sounded powerful, especially with the songs of this album. It's something which seeing is worth it.

Overall, if you're a fan of Rata Blanca, you will be satisfied with this album. It has more of the same, and this, for now, brings the band good results.