RONNIE ROMERO
RONNIE ROMERO – “Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters”
By Colonel Angus
I have been looking forward to this release to see what Ronnie Romero can come up with on his own. My first exposure to him was the RAINBOW reunion and I’ll be honest with you, I thought he did a good job but the whole affair was just a letdown. Other releases that made it onto my radar were the MSG, VANDENBERG, and SUNSTORM albums and again, Romero was really good but he was not the main writer. The disks that turned me into a fan, oddly enough, were his two previous covers albums “Raised on Radio” and “Raised on Heavy Radio”. They may not be songs written by him but I loved the song selection and that he took a risk with lesser known tunes. Too many times the same tracks are trotted out but his releases were for the most part refreshing takes on more obscure material. I would recommend those records as well. His work on ELEGANT WEAPONS was also another high point but I was really curious as to what Romero would churn out without the other high profile names attached. Thankfully, my curiosity was answered with “Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters” and it is a very impressive debut of original material.
The disk starts off with hard pounder “Castaway on the Moon” and right off the bat, he doesn’t just sing the lyrics, he commands the tune. The song is a perfect vehicle for his powerful vocals and he proves that he is no sideman. “Mountain of Light” starts off with an ominous riff but lightens up a bit for the verses; just two songs in and I’m already hooked. Soft piano ushers in “I’ve Been Losing You” but that is quickly set aside for a more 80s sounding rock tune (and I mean that is the best possible way). The chorus on this one is very infectious and you will be humming it for days. Jose Rubio also adds some really nice soloing making it one of the top tracks on this record. Up next is the title track and it has a nice JUDAS PRIEST vibe to it (at least to my ears). The riffing is heavier and the chorus has that fist pumping tempo that reminds me of some of PRIEST’s golden material.
Even though “Girl, Don’t Listen to the Radio” has a weird title, it is one of the heavier tunes on the disk. Romero also incorporates different vocal styles which in some spots it doesn’t even sound like him. I’m not quite sure if I love those different vocal styles as I really like his melodic natural voice but I give him credit for experimenting and giving us listeners some variety. At this point, I’m only half way through with the album and if this was all he released, I would be happy. The second half starts off with some twangy guitars as “Crossroads” turns into a bluesy workout. Rubio again adds some really great guitar work on this tune which makes me want to do some research on his discography. His playing definitely deserves more of my attention. Things kind of return to what the beginning of the album sounded like with “Not Just a Nightmare”. This track is a faster riff heavy rocker that has the same vibe as opener “Castaway on the Moon” but still has its own identity. “A Distant Shore” is kind of a ballad but is more complex than just what you would expect from a ballad. There are heavier passages overall intertwined are these softer moments that make this track really good and interesting. This one is another highlight that showcases Romero’s vocal power and range. If you were to ask me for a favorite off “Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters”, it would be hands down “Chased By Shadows”. It is the longest song on the record and Romero and company take advantage of the extended time to put different parts throughout. The beginning starts off with this swagger with little bits of DIO-ish elements and along the way they throw in some RAINBOW-esque middle-eastern flavor. By far, this is the track I would recommend to anyone who wants to start their Romero collection. The album closes with “Vengeance” and it follows the days when records would finish with a balls to wall fast and almost chaotic rocker. Sadly, all good things must end and “Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters” leaves with ten great tunes.
Well, there you have it, a breakdown of the first real Ronnie Romero solo effort. I didn’t really have any doubts on his vocal abilities because if you’re good enough for Ritchie Blackmore, then who am I to judge? What really strikes me most about this material is how consistently good it is. There isn’t a bad track on the whole disk and I have been enjoying complete spins since I got it. Many people may have looked at Romero as a “vocalist for hire” but with “Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters”, that preconceived notion should be shattered as he is a force in his own right. My next wish from him would be to tour the states and promote this record because it deserves to be performed on a stage.