Melodic Rock / AOR from Chile sounds a bit exotic to many, but this is a much beloved genre in South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc). Danish label Lions Pride is always in the ‘hunt’ for such ‘hidden bands’, so it’s not a surprise that they signed the band HUNTER, whom debuted for the label with 2021’s ”Hungry Heart’ album which received extremely favorable reviews – including ours at plotn08.
Now HUNTER’s singer and keyboarder Ed Carabantes is going solo under the name EDDIE VANTEZ and presents his solo debut “Rough Diamond”, also out via Lions Pride Music.
With all songs sung in English, from the very first bits the listener knows where the ‘journey’ is going; Classic AOR in the style of the 80s, catchy, plenty of melody & hooklines, with clean vocals, crisp guitars and genre-typical keyboard flourishes.
Even if many songs are located in the mid-tempo range, the album has its rocking puch too. Eddie’s vocal style is influenced by all-eras TOTO, but NIGHT RANGER, SURVIVOR or STAN BUSH must be mentioned as inspiration.
01 – Is This Love
02 – Little Sister
03 – Live On Love
04 – One Lonely Night
05 – Give in to Love
06 – Fire
07 – Rough Diamond
08 – The Phoenix Has Risen
09 – Gigolette
10 – It’s All Up to You
11 – Healing Touch
Eddie Vantez: Vocals & Keyboards
Ignacio Ruiz: Guitars, Keyboards
Claudio Guerrero: Guitars (Tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, 11)
Rodrigo Bugallo: Guitars (Track 1)
Fran Alonso: Guitars (Track 3)
Charlie Giardina: Bass
Juan Carlos Alfaro: Bass (Tracks 7,9)
Nilver Perez: Keyboards
Gabriel Seri: Drums
Gigolette Angeline: Backing Vocals