Feb 13, 20232 min read

Sunroad Just Dropped Their Single, “Speed Warning #1,” Featuring Rainbow Vocalist Ronnie Romero

There is no doubt about saying that the band Sunroad, from Goiás, Brazil, is one of the most relevant names in the melodic hard rock/heavy metal scene in all of South America. After all, during a 20-year career, it has released eight albums. Concerts have been performed in regions of Brazil and other countries of South America alongside great artists such as Joe Lynn Turner, Petra, Stryper, L.A. Guns, Whitecross, and Narnia.

The band’s eighth studio album and first to feature Steph Honde (Scream Taker, Hollywood Monsters), Walking the Hemispheres, was nominated for the Dynamite Independent Music Award as one of the best rock albums of 2021. Soon after, the band started work on Sunesthesia. The album has a very fine and sophisticated melodic hard rock sound, such as might be heard from UFO, Whitesnake, and Michael Schenker Group. The first single, “Speed Warning #1,” features Rainbow vocalist Ronnie Romero. Artwork was created by Tristan Greatrex (UFO, MSG, Vinnie Moore, Lionheart, and more).

The album has 12 tracks in total, with a core line up of Steph Honde - vocals, keyboards, guitars; Van Alexandre - lead guitars; JP Costa - rhythm guitars, vocals; Gui N Silva - bass guitars; and Fred Mika – drums. A host of guests are featured.

As Mika continues,

Also, we had the idea of contacting prominent artists everywhere to take part in this, such as Chilean singer Ronnie Romero [Rainbow, Sunstorm, MSG], which divides vocals on duet with Steph. Also, American keyboardist Michael T Ross [Lita Ford, Raiding Rock Vault, Hardline], Canadian bassist Ronnie Robson [Hollywood Monsters], and Brazilian lead guitarist Rafael Milhomem [BaRok, ex-Sunroad]. I guess with this all we got perfect timing on captive vibrations from many good musicians from everywhere. Additionally, Carl Dixon (Coney Hatch, the Guess Who, April Wine) can be heard.

As drummer Fred Mika states,

‘Speed Warning #1,’ as the name says, is one of the fastest and loudest Sunroad songs ever. We wanted a very energetic song to be the album’s opening track, so we worked in a way to provoke strong feelings from the listeners. I had an idea for a classical intro, and then sudden fast riffs come. Steph composed the guitar harmonies and those fast, louder riffs, and catchy choruses.