within%20temptation%20-%20tivoli%20april%2005%20frame%20home.jpg about%20-%20jpg.jpg reviews%20-%20jpg.jpg interviews%20-%20jpg.jpg gigs%20-%20jpg.jpg cd_review_brainstorm_downburst001006.jpg
BRAINSTORM
www.brainstorm-web.net
German power metallers Brainstorm formed back in 1989, although they remained unsigned until 1997, a year that marked the release of their debut album 'Hungry'. Since then, their recorded output has been fairly prolific, although 'Downburst' arrives after a three year gap following 2005's 'Liquid Monster'. On the promo copy sent for review, apart from 2 tracks, all the music is punctuated with sporadic voiceovers stating the name of the album, song titles, release date etc, and while this is perhaps an effective copy-theft deterrent, it becomes somewhat annoying after a couple of minutes, and slightly mars the reviewing experience. Minor annoyances aside, does Brainstorm's latest offering live up to all expectations from this talented band? Full of power metal's distinct idioms, from 80s inspired guitar riffage to clichéd vocal lines, the songs on 'Downburst' are somewhat predictable in their compositional style. For many years now, power metal has become a non-progressive, self-imitating sub-genre of metal that is more to do with unadventurous retro-pastiche than creating original music. For this reason, a contemporary power metal band really has to shine through the pack to garner my attention, and fortunately, 'Downburst' has enough skilled musicianship and infectiously melodic songs to transcend power metal's inherent banality. In short, dedicated power metallers will no doubt lap up the retro-essence of 'Downburst', and those who usually avoid bands playing under the banner of said sub-genre are urged to give the album a chance, for it might very well force you to reassess the contemporary merits of power metal when it's performed as well as this.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Metal Blade Records
Album
DOWNBURST
cd%20reviews%20-%20jpg.jpg
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
43:28
RELEASE DATE:
28th Jan 2008
TRACK LISTING
1) Falling Spiral Down
2) Fire Walk With Me
3) Stained With Sun
4) Redemption In Your Eyes
5) End In Sorrow
6) How Do You Feel
7) Protect Me From Myself
8) Surrounding Walls
9) Frozen
10) All Alone
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Germany
"'Downburst' has enough skilled musicianship and infectiously melodic songs to transcend power metal's inherent banality."