This is news to me and probably most other average American
metal fans, but Germany's Brainstorm has been together now
for more than a decade and released seven albums. When did
that happen? Their vocalist, Andy B. Franck, also fronts another
band on Metal Blade Records named Symphorce. Brainstorm plays
a blend of classic and power metal that is darker than that
of most of their peers. I place the sound somewhere between
Helloween and Judas Priest. Downburst is an obviously European-influenced
release and definitely not what U.S. metal fans are accustomed
to. Franck's melodic vocals contain many Priest and Maiden
tendencies. He is a strong vocalist and perfect for this type
of metal. The guitar riffs pack '80s thunder and incredible
energy. The album starts strong with “Falling Spiral
Down,” a song that reminds me of “Painkiller.”
The momentum continues with the mid-paced guitar rocker “Fire
Walk With Me” and the dynamic vocals of “Stained
With Sin.” “End of Sorrow” is a power ballad
that sounds like a blueprint for a Maiden song with soaring
Dickinson-like parts (think Seventh Son of a Seventh
Son) “Frozen” is the heaviest of the bunch
and most modern sounding. Franck adopts a deeper, more aggressive
vocal style and there's a backbone of heavy guitar riffs and
basslines providing the perfect foundation for him. These
are the strongest tracks of the album and most representative
of Brainstorm.
The album is full of hooks, riffs and traditional metal.
As it progresses, the novelty fades, which is probably
not a good sign on the initial listen. Nothing here is completely
unexpected and one might say Brainstorm plays it safe. That
hasn't stopped them from putting out a rock-solid metal album.
Trust me, it won't be mistaken for anything else. |
