RATA BLANCA: "Magos, Espadas Y Rosas" LP
Polydor 1990
Argentinia
Walter Giardino - lead guitar
Sergio Berdicheusky - rhythm guitar
Gustavo Rowek - drums
Guillermo Sanchez - bass
Adrian Barilari - vocals
Hugo Bistolfi - teclados (keyboards?)

Rarity:
LP = 6
CD (Arg.-Pres.) = 5
CD (Us-Pres.) = 4

La Leyenda del Hada...
Mujer Amante
El Beso de la Bruja
Haz tu Jugada
El Camino del Sol
Dias Duros
Porque es tan Dificil Amar

RATA BLANCA (means "White Rat" by the way) was Argentinias premier-metal band, they had an undoubted cult-status in their home-country. And they surely deserved it. First record was released in 1988, the second LP came out in 1990 and we'll have a closer look at this one in this review.
RATA BLANCA played great melodic Power Metal in the vain of ANGRA or HELLOWEEN ("Keepers..." era) with a very good singer. From the melodic-speed track >El Beso de la Bruja< to the ballad >Mujer Amante< the whole spectrum of Melodic Metal is covered. Highlight is the more than 9 minutes lasting melodic metal hymn >El Camino del Sol<, great metal that needs to be heard!!! Sadly I can not understand the lyrics (spanish), feel this is a great loss as the title of the album is very promising: "Magos, Espadas Y Rosas" means "Magicians, Swords and Roses". What more can you ask for?
The CD version of RATA BLANCA's second release has two bonustracks (>Preludio Obsesivo< and >Otono Medieval<, both instrumentals) and is nearly as impossible to find as the vinyl-pressing. All other releases are also very hard to find, much sought after and of course expensive.
Discography:
"Rata Blanca" LP/CD 1988
"Magos, espadas y rosas" LP/CD 1990
"Guerreros del Arco Iris" LP/CD 1991 ("Rainbow Warriors")
"El Libro Occulto" CD 1993 ("The secret book")
"Entre el Cielo y el Inferno" CD 1994 ("Between heaven and hell")
"Rata Blanca" CD 1993 (original pressing)
"Rata Blanca" CD 1997 (second pressing)
"Canciones Busadas" CD 1998 (fanclub-only CD, 1.000 pressed: first 8 tracks from first 3 albums, other 5 tracks are different versions and rare B-sides exclusive on this CD + Pink Floyd live-cover!)
"Grandes Canciones" DCD 199? (11 tracks from first 3 albums, + 1 accoustic version exclusive to this)
"Ciudad De Caceres" CD (1.000 pressed live CD, 7 tracks, 30.04.1993)
"En Vivo En Buenos Aires" CD 1996 (Polygram Discos Arg. / Live CD with orchestra, their rarest!)
"Giardino Temple" MCD 199? Promo-only
"La Leyenda Vive" MCD 2000 or 2001 (2-song radio promo CD)
"Mujer Amante" 7" (1 track)
(Discography updated with informations of MIKE GOULD, thanks!)