THE STORM

This is a Spanish five piece band that was founded in the early Seventies 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 workby 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 now five piece formation 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, miliairy 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 but with a new bass player, and a hardly recognizable sound. So the history of The Storm was a heavy but short one you can cynically conclude.

On their debut album The Storm delivers mainly rock songs with simple (in general) English lyrics, heavy guitarwork and cascades of Hammond organ (great solos in Woman Mine and It's All Right), 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. Like in 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 (Black Sabbath meets Led Zeppelin with heavy guitar runs).

If you like Hammond drenched progressive hard rock like Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, this band is worth to check out.

My rating: 3,5 star.

Other interesting (and often overlooked) Seventies Spanish prog albums: Franklin - Lice Cycle / Canarios - Ciclos / Las Grecas - Gypsy Rock / Atila - Intencion / Abedul - Nosotros / Azabache - Dias De Luna.