RONNIE ROMERO is a rather new name on the Melodic Metal front. After releasing two albums with his own band LORDS OF BLACK this Chilean singer got noticed by the mighty RITCHIE BLACKMORE because of his rendition of the RAINBOW song "Lady Of The Lake". It made the man in black offer the vocal position in RAINBOW, wit who he has done a few tours now. I went to the UK twice to see them and was blown away with his vocal performance.

Since then he has also toured with MICHAEL SCHENKER, recorded and album with VANDENBERG (the great "2020" album), and has finally decided to release something in his own name. of course, the Italian powerhouse record label Frontiers Records SRL picked it up and made it happen. The biggest surprise is not the cheesy cover of "Raised On Radio", but the title, as it suggests that this should be easy to listen to. And it is.

Even though I really love how the man has taken to the songs and made them his own, it is a pity that this is a pure covers album. And RONNIE ROMERO is being very respectful to the originals without even attempting to copy them, but to give them the treatment that is befitting with his voice. And I have to hand it to the people of Frontiers, they have put together a band that knows how to lift every song just enough to make them special. My two favourites are "I Was Born To Love You", as it takes a little while before you actually recognise that it isn't FREDDIE MERCURY singing the song, but also because the guitars sound just like BRIAN MAY, which is never wrong in my book. The other one is the URIAH HEEP classic "Gypsy", as it has undergone a complete transformation from a seventies tune to a modern classic. Absolutely brilliant.

It's a pity that he hasn't covered the title track itself for "Raised On Radio", but all together RONNIE ROMERO has outdone himself vocally on his debut album. As the musicians are the ones that give him the space to shine and vice versa, they should be applauded as well. But please, RONNIE, next time come up with your own songs and show us what your capable of. Even if that means to use other writers, it wouldn't matter. Just let us hear songs written by and/or for you. Until then I will just have to endure another round of these great covers.