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Brainstorm
Album: Downburst
Release Date: January 22, 2008
Label: Metal Blade Records
Track Listing
01. Falling Spiral Down
02. Fire Walk With Me
03. Stained With Sin
04. Redemption In Your Eyes
05. End In Sorrow
06. How Do You Feel
07. Protect Me From Myself
08. Surrounding Walls
09. Frozen
10. All Alone
Reviewer: Eric
You would think after seven releases a band would start to
get stale, right? Not in Brainstorm’s case, Downburst
blends traditional power metal with thrash and speed metal. It
is hard to find a band that can put out one of their greatest
albums after ten years. This isn’t an understatement either.
I would bet my left arm that most of you haven’t even heard of
Brainstorm. Brainstorm has been one of those bands on Metal
Blade Records that keep getting the green light to make another
album. How can this happen if only a few dozen people have heard
of them? Power metal is making a huge impact in the states now
and Brainstorm is good, they are not like all the bands that get
signed today. One album comes out and then they get kicked to
the curb, that’s how the music industry works today my friends.
Any way let’s get back to Brainstorm. One of the biggest changes
with Brainstorm is the loss of former bassist Andrew Mailänder.
He will be missed, but thankfully Andy Franck and the rest of
the crew are back. There are ten big improvements on
Downburst when compared to their last album Liquid
Monster. I know this is going to sound bad but all those
improvements are the tracks on Downburst. These are ten
traditional songs that will make metal fans jump for joy.
Brainstorm hasn’t changed their style at all. The only
difference here is the quality of music, it’s much better.
Within the three year gap between albums Brainstorm gives us
fast, speed metal like riffs, power metal tempos and even some
good old fashion metal. Downburst seems to offer a little
bit from all the sub genres in the metal category.
One of the downsides to Brainstorm has to be Franck’s vocals. I
don’t have a problem with them; they go beautifully with all the
tracks. My problem here is some of the tracks have alternative
like choruses. How Do You Feel has the vibe to be a kick ass
Brainstorm song, but why does the chorus have to be this radio
friendly? I’d expect this kind of work from Nocturnal Rites or
Edguy.
Final Verdict
If you haven’t heard of Brainstorm yet then you better start
paying attention right now. These guys have been around for
years now and they have finally released an album that is worthy
to take them to the top. Downburst is everything you are
looking for when it comes to power metal. Some of the tracks
have radio like choruses; this may bring back some bad memories
because of last years release from Nocturnal Rites.
Rating
8.25 out of 10
Brainstorm
Official Web Site
Brainstorm on Myspace
Brainstorm - All Those Words
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