Brainstorm - 'Firestorm' CD Review (AFM Records)

While German power metalers Brainstorm’s tenth disc, Firesoul (AFM Records), came out earlier this year, I never got a chance to put my thoughts about the disc on ‘paper’. After the local Judas Priest show, I was reflecting that Brainstorm’s new disc captures a lot of the elements that were missing on Judas Priest’s most recent release so I thought I should finally sit down and knock out a review.

Brainstorm’s core sound falls solidly into the power metal genre but the band extends this sound to include elements of NWOBHM with the down-tuned dual lead guitars of Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, light orchestral elements along with a little bit of prog, which includes clean, technical guitar solos. Adding to this, Andy B. Franck’s raspy but melodic vocals are directly comparable to artists like Rob Halford or Bruce Dickenson though Franck never goes for the high-end scream.

The disc starts with “Erased By the Dark”, which is an old-school power metal number that is powered by some breakneck drumming and the band just picks up the pace from here. The title track, “Firesoul”, is the next cut and this track is a bit more aggressive. This number focuses around driving guitar riffs and dual NWOBHM guitar leads and the vocals match this intensity.



One of the many standout numbers is “Entering Solitude”, which is a slower number than the disc openers. This track has a ‘classic rock’/AOR feel centered around clean melodic guitar lines, soaring vocals on the chorus and a melodic guitar solo toward the back-half of the song. This number is followed by “Recall The Real”, which really changes up the pace with its Gregorian choral intro and outro. After this ethereal opening, this slow burning number kicks into high-gear with staccato guitar riffs which are accompanied by soaring vocals and meaty, melodic choruses.

Looking at some of the other tracks, “Feed Me Lies” is a return to the aggressive and driving sounds of the disc’s opener and this track is the one that stuck with me after a few spins of the disc. “The Chosen” is the closest that Brainstorm comes to ‘traditional’ power metal as the keys are higher in the mix for this number and the riffs are downplayed in favor of orchestral flourishes. The soaring choruses are a notable standout along with the very clean guitar lines, which include a technical power-prog solo. The disc wraps up with “…And I Wonder”, which is another AOR rocker and the minimal instrumentation allows this number to be powered by Franck’s vocals.

Links:
Brainstorm

Brainstorm - Just Highs No Lows (12 Years of Persistence) CD Review (Metal Blade)

At the end of last year, Metal Blade released Just Highs No Lows (12 Years of Persistence), a 2-CD compilation of Brainstorm hits and rarities. This is the band's final release on the Metal Blade label and this 32-track compilation pulls 4+ selections from each of the five albums that the band recorded for Metal Blade between 2000 - 2008 along with eight rarities.

The compilation runs in reverse chronological through Brainstorm's tenure with Metal Blade. Here is the track listing:

Disc 1:
"Downburst" (2008):
01. Falling Spiral Down
02. Fire Walk With Me
03. End In Sorrow
04. How Do You Feel
05. Stained with Sin

"Liquid Monster" (2005):
06. Worlds Are Coming Through
07. All Those Words
08. Inside The Monster
09. Painside
10. Heavenly

"Soul Temptation" (2003):
11. Highs Without Lows
12. The Leading
13. Doorway To Survive

"Trinity of Lust" trilogy :
14. Shiva's Tears
15. Fornever
16. Soul Temptation

Disc 2:

"Metus Mortis" (2001):
01. Blind Suffering
02. Hollow Hideaway
03. Shadowland
04. Under Lights

"Ambiguity" (2000):
05. Tear Down The Walls
06. Maharaja Palace
07. Beyond My Destiny
08. Demonsion

Bonus Tracks:
09. Face Down (from "Metus" digipack)
10. Breathe ("Liquid Monster" Japanese bonus)
11. Drowning ("Downburst" Japanese bonus)
12. Crawling In Chains ("Downburst" Japanese limited edition)
13. Before The Dawn (Judas Priest cover / from "All Those Words" single)
14. Is This The Way to Amarillo (Tony Chrisie cover)
15. Voices (Live - Budapest DVD)
16. Liar's Edge (Live - Summer Breeze DVD)

While this compilation spans a number of years, Brainstorm's melodic, power metal sound hasn't changed significantly over the years so this set comes across as a consistent body of work.

This is a great introduction to the band for the uninitiated. For those, like myself, who already have a number of Brainstorm's studio albums, I would have liked a second disc of just European b-sides and rarities but minor complaints don't diminish the power of this set.

Links:
Brainstorm

Andy B. Franck, singer from Brainstorm - An Interview with BrooklynRocks

Last Wednesday, I had the chance to speak with Andy B. Franck from Brainstorm about the band's new release "Downburst", which was released in the US last Tuesday. Downburst is a great power metal CD and is getting excellent reviews. (About.Com Review, Metal Temple Review). For anyone who doesn't yet have this disc, there are two tracks from this release streaming on a Metal Blade preview site.

Andy was kind enough to to let me record the interview as a podcast. Here is a link to the feed and a direct link to the mp3 of the interview.

Many thanks to Andy B. Franck for taking the time to speak with me and to Vince @ Metal Blade for setting up the interview.

Links:
Brainstorm's Website
Brainstorm's MySpace page