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BRAINSTORM “Plague of Rats”
BRAINSTORM “Plague of Rats”
By Colonel Angus
I have had BRAINSTORM on my radar for over two decades now and I have to admit, they have been a consistent lot since I first heard “Unholy” back in 1999. These German power metalers have been releasing albums since 1997 and if my count is correct, this is their fourteenth studio effort. I’ll be honest with you, they have been very musically consistent but not every record has hit me with the same force that “Unholy” did back in the day. Certain records like “Liquid Monster” and 2018’s effort “Midnight Ghost” left me feeling detached and I made no connection to the music. A few years after “Wall of Skulls” (which I thought was really good), I’m staring at the latest disk hoping that BRAINSTORM has managed to deliver the goods once again.
In true power metal fashion, the record starts with a very dramatic intro before they launch into a frantic “Behind Enemy Lines”. I have written previously that I’m not much of a power metal fan but BRAINSTORM is one of the few bands that I feel does the genre justice. Right off the bat, they bad seems renewed and play with a newfound purpose. Before we get into another power metal tune, the guys slip in a menacing and pounding track called “Garuda (Eater of Snakes)”. This is a great detour from the following “False Memories”.
The JETHRO TULL-ish into to “The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)” is another unexpected bit that really elevates this release from just another power metal record. If you are the type of person that enjoys the power metal aspects of BRAINSTORM, then fear not, because they still have plenty to offer in “Masquerade Conspiracy” and “From Hell”. Where I feel that BRAINSTORM excels is that they are able to slow things down and find a cool groove and stick with it for a while. I really enjoy songs like “The Dark of Night”, “Crawling”, and especially album closer “Curtains Fall”. The latter has this cool chugging verse but then this awesome melodic chorus that brings together the best aspects of their catalogue.
The BRAINSTORM line-up has been pretty consistent for over two decades with only newest member and bassist Jim Ramses coming on board last year. The twin guitar attack of Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric is ever present as it has always been and Dieter Bernert’s drumming is always thunderous with “Plague of Rats” being no different. Andy B. Franck still sounds as powerful as he did on “Soul Temptation” which is pretty amazing that a metal singer can keep his voice this many years on. While the line-up has been pretty consistent, the material has not always hit the mark. Luckily, “Plague of Rats” captures all the best parts of their previous records and brought them together onto on album. BRAINSTORM have hit upon a winning formula in my book and it has rekindled my love for parts of their back catalogue. “Plague of Rats” is something I would recommend for old and new fans and I feel this will become one of their career defining releases.
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