ROBLEDO – Wanted Man
- Posted on 04-10-2021
“Wanted Man” is the debut album by wildly talented Chilean vocalist James Robledo, and although I was entirely convinced or all-out impressed his work with Sinner’s Blood and their “The Mirror Star” record, this solo project of his is a much more rewarding listening experience in every sense of the word.
Existing somewhere between melodic metal and hard rock, “Wanted Man” is a great display of Robledo’s impressive talents, and the disc is overflowing with blistering solos, killer licks, and emotive vocals. There are plenty of epic riffs and galloping passages for all you lovers of power metal too, and it certainly does not hurt that the sound of the record is powerful and that the rhythm section is thunderous in places. Granted, the LP lacks a proper organic band feel, but it is not devoid of warmth or vigor, and it delivers a solid punch and a fair number of memorable moments. As to highlights, the pounding title track and the epic “Hate Like You” immediately come to mind, but there is something about the atmospheric “Dreams Deceive” and the aggressive “Shelter from Pain” that really works for me also. The somewhat mournful ballad “Alone Again” is quite good as well and never outstays its welcome due to its relatively short length, and “Where Eagles Dare to Fly” is a fitting conclusion to an elegantly constructed opus that is musically cohesive and solid in terms of quality. Fans of melodic metal and hard rock with bombastic undertones to it ought to give this one a handful of spins.