When guitarist Jero Ramiro announced his second departure from Spanish heavy metal pioneers Saratoga earlier this year, that was cause for concern for me, as I’m not the biggest fan of the direction the band took during his absence. Unlike last time, however, his replacement isn’t trying to turn Saratoga into a relatively heavy AOR band. In fact, while some power metal elements remain in the band’s music, ‘En Estado Puro’ is probably the band’s purest heavy metal album since 1997’s ‘Mi Ciudad’. If you prefer the genre in al its riff-heavy, yet catchy glory, ‘En Estado Puro’ is the album for you.

Although Saratoga has a fairly clearly defined sound that combines the powerful riff work of traditional heavy metal with the melodic approach of power metal, especially in the vocal department – and why wouldn’t you if you have a singer as great as Tete Novoa in your ranks? – they tend to recalibrate the exact balance between the styles with each album. ‘En Estado Puro’ leans towards the more traditional end of the spectrum, certainly more so than its excellent predecessor ‘Aeternus’ (2018), though there are hooks the size of a continent galore on ‘En Estado Puro’. The album isn’t exactly lacking great choruses.

Peruvian newcomer Charlie Parra del Riego doesn’t just impress with his fantastic lead guitar work, but also by writing two of the greatest songs on ‘En Estado Puro’. ‘A Toda Velocidad’ is a fast ripper of a power metal song drenched in neoclassical guitar leads, and it has what are likely the most aggressive riffs on the album. ‘Vientos de Libertad’ is somewhat darker in tone, and it has a fairly unpredictable chord progression in its chorus, which implies it’s building towards a triumphant climax, only to move back down. It’s nerdy, but I’m a sucker for things like that.

It’s not just the guitarist’s compositions that impress. Bassist and sole remaining original member Niko del Hierro has upped the ante as well. He wrote the bulk of the material here, and none of it is short of impressive. Standout tracks are the melancholic, yet hopeful eighties-style hardrocker ‘Alma Perdida’, the dramatic and highly dynamic ‘Todo Acabó’, and the rawer, vaguely early Iron Maiden-esque ‘Te Vistes de León’, which Del Hierro sings himself. Novoa’s closing track ‘Somos Fuego’ is another highlight, with its catchy melodies and anthemic vibe making the listener excited to put the album on again.

Not many bands with the history that Saratoga has can replace half the band – drummer Arnau Martí also debuts on the album – and come up with one of their best works to date. Time will have to tell if the highlights on ‘En Estado Puro’ have the lasting value that Saratoga’s live staples have, but for what it’s worth, this is without a doubt one of the most consistent albums Saratoga has released up until this point. There isn’t a single weak song on the album, and the flow is superior. This makes me hopeful about the band’s future.

Recommended tracks: ‘A Toda Velocidad’, ‘Alma Perdida’, ‘Somos Fuego’