Simon RushworthSunstorm — Restless Fight (Frontiers)
Three albums into his tenure with Sunstorm and the jury’s still out on whether Ronnie Romero was the right man to replace Joe Lynn Turner at the helm.
Sure, 2016’s Edge Of Tomorrow and its feistier still follow-up The Road To Hell saw Turner lean towards a heavier sound.
But when Romero stepped into his idol’s shoes in 2021 it seemed as if Sunstorm’s days as an AOR powerhouse were well and truly over.
Restless Fight is, to all intents and purposes, a hard rock record.
Romero might argue that the band’s eighth album ‘keeps the Sunstorm essence with an AOR base’ but who’s he kidding?
Has Ronnie listened to House Of Dreams of Emotional Fire lately?
There’s very little AOR about a punchy, powerful and passionate album that even includes a cover of the Jake E Lee-fuelled Shot In The Dark.
The decision to feature Ozzy Osbourne’s first Billboard Hot 100 hit tells you all you need to know about Restless Fight.
It’s often more Fozzy than Foreigner… and the perfect vehicle for a fired-up Romero.
One of the hardest working men in rock has forged a reputation as one of the foremost vocalists of his generation.
Stints with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, The Michael Schenker Group, Lords Of Black, The Ferrymen and the excellent Elegant Weapons have broadened Romero’s reach.
And Sunstorm benefit from his trademark energy and undying enthusiasm.
Romero’s a class act but he’s no master of melodic rock and this is more about the raging storm than the hazy sun.
Restless Fight for Sunstorm’s identity
Love’s Not Gone, Running To You and Dreams Are Over sound like they should be classic power ballads.
But don’t be deceived — once Romero lets rip and Aldo Lonobile kicks his axe into gear it’s clear Restless Fight is no place for fluffy AOR.
Pity poor Antonio Agarte as the keysman battles through a bullish mix to make himself heard. Maybe back in the day…
The thing is there’s no place for nostalgia where Sunstorm 2024 is concerned: this band’s here to rock and any last vestiges of the Turner-fronted noughties version are nowhere to be seen or heard.
I’ll Stand For You is a strident case in point — the Rainbow-meets-Bonfire bombast underpinning the explosive opener represents Romero at his compelling best.
Agarte’s neat intro. ushers in a similarly upbeat take on Shot In The Dark with Lonobile given licence to go full Lee.
And the testosterone-fuelled title track is pretty much a blast of old school NWOBHM in the vein of classic Tygers Of Pan Tang.
When Romero does attempt to show his softer side it simply doesn’t work.
Without You would work a treat in the safe hands of Gary Cherone, Eric Martin or Steve Overland but Ronnie’s rocket-fuelled pipes aren’t a great fit.
He’s far better sticking to what he knows and playing to his strengths: even on the 80s hair metal-styled Running To You he picks up the pace to such an extent that there’s no room for any subtle emotion.
Romero’s got a killer hard rock voice and every project he puts his name to is guaranteed trademark professionalism and pride.
But fitting the Chilean into Sunstorm still feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole.
The Restless Fight for this legendary band’s identity goes on.
