There are so many power metal bands that get all the acclaim, but one who rarely gets mentioned in genre conversations and, along with Primal Fear, are one of the most consistent from album to album, are the German juggernauts known as Brainstorm. These guys are on some kind of a roll, their last handful of releases are absolutely killer, and they've once again hit it out of the park here on their latest Firesoul. Fronted by superhuman vocalist Andy B. Franck, the rest of Brainstorm (guitarists Torsetn Ihlenfeld & Milan Loncaric, bassist Antonio Ieva, and drummer Dierter Bernert) tear it up throughout Firesoul with one crushing, melodic power metal anthem after another. "Descendants of the Fire", "Erased By the Dark", "Shadowseeker", "…And I Wonder", and of course, the glorious title track all stick in your head from the very first listen and refuse to get out, the hook laden melodies and fearsome riffing immediately addicting. Franck's venomous vocal on the blistering "What Grows Inside" perfectly plays off the cavalcade of monstrous riffs and pounding rhythms in what is one of the albums most furious tracks, while the majestic "The Chosen" adds some keys to the mix for a more epic feel.
It boggles the mind that Brainstorm aren't a household name here in North America, as I can certainly see this band tearing up the road with other acts such as Iced Earth, Primal Fear, Sabaton, Edguy, Epica, Nightwish, and the like, but maybe that's the problem. These guys need to get their asses over to these shores for some live dates so they can show the metal fans here what they are all about. This is another kick ass release from the Germans, who just continue to deliver amazing power metal that's stripped of any 'cheese factor' but long on everything we love about the genre. Highly recommended!
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Erased By The Dark
2. Firesoul
3. Descendants of the Fire
4. Entering Solitude
5. Recall The Real
6. Shadowseeker
7. Feed Me Lies
8. What Growns Inside
9. The Chosen
10. …And I Wonder