RATA BLANCA (Live)

It’s an odd thing in music that bands who don’t release albums in English can often be overlooked, even when they are the biggest band in their country/continent for their style. Rata Blanca is a prime example, as they are easily the top traditional heavy metal act from South America, and they deserve that title 100%. Hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rata Blanca have a list of platinum selling albums too long to name here, and still have all of the vitality and excitement on stage that they had back in 1984 when they were founded.

Fronted by Adrián Barilari (often referred to as Hispanic Bruce Dickinson) Rata Blanca took the stage and held the packed crowd in the palm of their hands for a solid 90 minutes of their best songs. The band opened the show with “Diario De Una Sombra” off of 2009’s El Reino Olvidado (an album which the band released an alternate version of with Doogie White singing in English) as devoted fans sang their hearts out with Barilari.

Virtuoso guitarist and founder Walter Giardino was in prime form on stage, with a style that could be described as a blend of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. Giardino’s signature instrument is always a scalloped neck fender Stratocaster, which he played effortlessly with such emotion as to bring a tear to the listener’s eye. Walter Giardino is one of the all-time greats, and his performance was fantastic.

The band was razor tight, and captured every nuance of the songs, while having so much fun on stage that their joy was infectious. This reviewer (not a Spanish speaker) was the only one in the crowd who wasn’t singing every song word for word. This band is highly recommended, and if you get a chance to catch Rata Blanca on stage, it’ll be an experience you’ll always remember. They pick up their tour again in May of 2025 with 5 dates in Spain, so if you can, make an event of it. You’ll be glad you did.

Lineup

• Walter Giardino – Guitar
• Adrián Barilari – vocals
• Danilo Moschen  – keyboards
• Alan Fritzler – drums
• Juan Pablo Massanisso – bass

Setlist:

1. Diario de una sombra
2. Sólo para amarte
3. Volviendo a casa
4. La otra cara de la moneda
5. Talismán
6. El círculo de fuego
7. Guerrero del arco iris
8. Cuando hoy es ayer
9. Hijos de la tempestad
10. Mujer amante
11. Rock es rock!
12. Rock and Roll Hotel
13. Aún estás en mis sueños
14. La leyenda del hada y el mago

Listen to the title track from Rata Blanca’s newest EP: Rock Es Rock