Bf_2014

German band BRAINSTORM are one of many veteran bands out there today, with a career that goes more than 25 years back in time, releasing their initial demo EP “Hand of Doom” way back in 1990. They really hit the stride from 1997 and onwards though, with the first of now 10 full length studio albums released then, and the band from then on releasing an album every other year or so. “Firesoul” is their most recent studio creation, and was issued through German label AFM Records in 2014.

What we have here is a band that merrily wander back and forth between traditional heavy metal and traditional power metal, exploring these styles in a fairly typical manner, but with the experience and expertise to elevate the material by way of subtle, effective and cleverly used effects, with a top notch lead vocalist as the proverbial icing on the cake.

Careful but dramatic orchestration is used sparingly and to good effect throughout, as are frail, more ethereal keyboard layers to add a softer touch to the proceedings. The guitars are toned down to create a more smooth running atmosphere, and given a louder, more vibrant texture when needed top produce a more majestic, vibrant expression. Clever alterations in pace, from chugging or galloping riff cascades to reverberating, textured riff constructions is used in liberal amounts throughout, and more sparingly but highly effective when employed are subservient riff cascades with melodic overlays. Perhaps the most used effect throughout are subtle alterations in tone and intensity by way of impact riffs, an effect this band appears to be true masters of, adding tension and creating a basic melodic touch at the same time.

The band alternates between these different effects with great care throughout, whether they are exploring a more typical power metal style, a more distinct traditional heavy metal oriented one, as well as when they seek to combine these two subtly different directions into one, something that occurs a few times throughout this album. Topping it up are the lead vocals of Andy B. Franck: Powerful and melodic, and with just a slight bit of grit to it as well that adds tension to these songs by the truckload. Whenever a song doesn’t quite manage to carry itself by instrumentation alone, or if the foundations are just a tad too cliched to be of interest, his vocal displays will elevate the end product from interesting and passable to interesting and noticeable. That Brainstorm also employs some nice vocal harmonies here and there further elevating some of the compositions at hand.

But the most stunning creations here are the opening tracks. Both Erased by the Dark and Firesoul feature the most developed effects and the most clever use of them, tracks that appears to have been given extra care and flavored with a few additional degrees of sophistication to really become standout tracks, and presumably those two tracks are the ones that were highlighted when this album was promoted too, the ones given bold letters on the one-sheet that typically follows a promo version of an album and recommended to be given airtime by radio DJs. The opening cut or opening two tracks are commonly used for such purposes, and I would be surprised if this wasn’t the case for this particular production, to put it that way.

The end result is a quality slice of power metal going heavy metal or vice versa, a very well developed and executed slice of old school vibrant metal covering most bases from the emotional, careful almost ballad heavy metal tune to the vibrant, aggressive almost thrash metal power metal creation. Brilliant at best, and never uninteresting even if touching upon a few cliches from time to time. If you like heavy metal and power metal both this is an album that merits a listen, in particular if you enjoy bands exploring both of those directions that are not afraid to flavor their material with subtle sophisticated effects.

My rating: 84/100