The Storm: The Storm (1974)
Another example of Heavy Rock’s pervasive and far-reaching influence during the early ‘70s, The Storm hailed from Seville, Spain, where they formed as Los Tormentos, circa 1971, just as the first wave of Iberian Rock bands (Tapiman, Maquina, Gong y Smash, etc.) were struggling to survive amid very adverse working conditions.
That’s because, lest we forget, the Spain of 45 years ago was still a backward country by European standards, only just emerging from four decades of totalitarian rule under dictator Francisco Franco, meaning that the domestic recording industry and its resources were scant and outdated to say the least.
Luckily for the newly renamed The Storm, a local entertainment businessman took it upon himself to finance the group’s activities as they honed their craft (and English language skills) playing covers of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream and Deep Purple.
Especially Deep Purple, bolstering evidence to my theory that, among the ‘Big Three’ pioneers of Heavy Metal, it was Blackmore’s bunch, more so than the better-selling Sabbath or Zeppelin, who seemed to inspire the most groups around the world (see Japan’s Murasaki, Indonesia’s A.K.A., etc.).
And those influences are immediately apparent in Luis Genil’s dominant organ over forceful rockers like “I’ve Gotta Tell You Mama,” “Woman Mine” and “I Don’t Know,” though he eventually sits out the aptly named instrumental “Experiencia sin Órgano” (“Experiment Without Organ”).
Guitarist Angel Ruiz also shines throughout, but especially on the aptly named “I am Busy,” “It’s Alright,” and the laid-back, Savoy Brown-styled Blues of “Un Señor Llamado Fernández de Córdoba” – dedicated to their manager.
Rounding out the quartet, there’s Angel’s brother Diego pounding the drum kit and even taking a solo on the schizophrenic showpiece “Crazy Machine” and, together with bassist José Torres, they comprise a powerful, flashy rhythm section.
But for all their promise, The Storm simply couldn’t overcome their country’s substandard music industry infrastructure, and despite opening a local show for Queen, a much hyped sophomore album was delayed indefinitely when some band members were called up for mandatory military service.
By the time some of the boys regrouped and released that second LP in 1979, The Storm no longer raged, having succumbed to commercial pressures thsat made them virtually unrecognizable as the entity once touted as the “Spanish Deep Purple.”
More ‘70s Heavy Rock from Around the World: A.K.A.’s Do What You Like, Buffalo’s Volcanic Rock, Los Dug Dug’s Smog, Fanny Adams’ Fanny Adams, Flower Travellin’ Band’s Satori, Kahvas Jute’s Wide Open, Lucifer’s Friend’s Lucifer’s Friend, Murasaki’s Murasaki, Space Farm’s Space Farm, Titanic’s Sea Wolf, Toad’s Toad, Warpig’s Warpig.
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