### Brainstorm: Downburst

#### 25/01/08 || Euthanatos

I made a comment in some review a while back that I hadn’t liked Symphorce’s (Andy B. Franck’s other band) latest album because, in an attempt to get infinitely heavier, they went overboard and the music just seemed artificial and pale.

What you could call Andy B. Franck’s main band, Brainstorm, makes no such mistake. Never compromising the heaviness that has become characteristic of this power metal outfit, the group once again delivers and releases one of its best albums. What impresses me about Brainstorm is how they continue to get better and better. “Soul Temptation”, “Liquid Monster” and now “Downburst” are amazing albums that see the band repeating formulas, and yet continue to captivate the listener.

The blasting opener, “Falling Spiral Down” kicks things off brilliantly, a fast and furious song to show what the lads are here for. “Fire Walk With Me”, the obviously Twin Peaks-inspired song that had already been released in an EP, is one killer of a track. “Stained with Sin” has a great 90’s power metal feel to it, with some Ivanhoe inspired tempo as well. I love this “old school” (if we can call it that) ambiance. “Redemption in Your Eyes” once again picks up the faster pace and it’s brutally heavy. “End in Sorrow” could be called your power-ballad, even though it’s insanely heavy as well. Franck, as usual, shines outrageously. What an amazing and overlooked singer. He is definitely one of my favorites in metal. I also interviewed him years ago and he’s a top-notch guy. I’d suck his dick. Wait, forget that last bit.

“Protect Me From Myself” is epic, with some momentous keyboards and heavy. How many times have I written heavy on this review? Enough, already? Nah, heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy. “Frozen” goes along the same vein and has some great keyboards that go with the vocal lines, and features great guitar work to boot.

A brilliant album that I guarantee will turn some heads in the metal world. Brainstorm have reached an incredible level in musicianship and creativity, even though, like I mentioned before, they’re not really innovating their style. Which just shows how good they are at what they do.

Oh, major props for Sascha Paeth and Miro, for a once again stellar production.

The cover: Looks like a video game cover, with some ninja dude, but it actually looks really good.

9 Andy B. Franck’s out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Metal Blade
- Website: www.truemetal.org/brainstorm
- Band
- Andy B. Franck: vocals
- Torsten Ihlenfeld: guitars
- Milan Loncaric: guitars
- Dieter Bernert: drums

- Tracklist
- 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