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Review: Red Wine - Hijos Del Despertar
Red Wine
Hijos Del Despertar

Label: Arise Records
Year released: 2001
Tracks: 8
Genre: Power Metal

Rating:
5/5


Review online: October 1, 2002
Reviewed by: Steel Warrior
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 3.86/5 (77.14%) (7 Votes)
Review

Spanish metal don’t cease to amaze me. After highly enjoying such bands as Mago de Oz, Tierra Santa, and Avalanch now I am facing what might be the best Spanish Metal CD I have ever listened. "Hijos del Despertar" is such a perfect masterpiece that I don’t even know how to begin to praise it. It is perfect in every sense: vocals, music, production, artwork, everything. So, I will keep it short and to the point.

Red Wine can be described musically as a mix of bands like Avalanch, Skylark, Edguy, Angra, and Iron Maiden but at the same time they are very unique. The guitar sound is one of the heaviest I have heard in this style. The drumming is very tight, perfectly executed, and along with the bass lines, together they make the rhythm section of your dreams. The keyboards are just majestic, not over-employed, but the perfect companion to each of the melodies. And the guitar solos, AHHH!!-skillfully executed and very intelligent.

But the music is not the best thing about Red Wine. Why? Very simple. Mario Suarez is the best Spanish Metal singer I have ever heard. He is amazing, he does not scream, does not whisper and does not whine. He just sings with a passion that comes from the heart. I even dare to say that Mario should be placed among today’s Top 5 singers in any metal style. Yep, he is that good and he is only 21 years old, with Red Wine as his first experience . The whole production of the album is out of this world. With a cover done by Luis Royo (Ten, Skylark) and with a near perfect recording at the highly professional Sonido XXI Studios (Tierra Santa), the final result is breathtaking.

The album opens with an instrumental intro full of keyboards perfectly done by keyboardist Ivan Crespo. Track #2, "Hijos del Despertar" is just an awesome melody, tight riffing, and a vocal harmony fest. On track #4, "Ahogando Penas" you will witness the perfection I have been praising about Red Wine. This is the best album track, in my opinion, the guitars riffs are very heavy and melodic, the drumming very precise, the keyboards setting the tone, and the vocals… Well Mario is a GOD on this one. The guitar solo on this one is just mind-blowing with a Maiden-like feel. Track # 7, "Santa Hipocresia", fights arm to arm with "Ahogando Penas" for the best track of the album. This one is very Maiden influenced. It reminds me a lot of "Powerslave". On "Santa Hipocresia" (Holy Hypocrisy), the lyrics make a frontal full attack on present day religious beliefs. A very tricky theme indeed, so I will avoid passing judgment on this one. Track #8 (and last track), "Esperando" (Waiting) is just the perfect album closer that leaves you breathless and as the title suggests: waiting for more.

So, my metal partners in crime, this is the Metal album of any metal fan’s dreams. Too bad that is only around 43 minutes long, because with such perfection you will beg for more. " Hijos del Despertar" is for sure one of the best metal releases ever!!! And as my friend Ernie said on his Avalanch review, is about time for all of you to open your ears and give Spanish lyrics a chance. Don’t deprive yourself of enjoying Red Wine’s masterpiece because it is sung in Spanish, because I bet my right arm that you will be hugely pleased after just the initial listening.

More about Red Wine...
Review: Hijos Del Despertar (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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