Brainstorm is a power metal band from Germany forming in 1989, releasing fourteen albums across a glittering career – the band’s fourteenth (and most recent) album ‘Plague Of Rats’ emerging in 2025…
…and may be the strongest album the band has ever released! Which is the same thing I believe I said about the band’s previous album, 2021’s ‘Wall Of Skulls’ – Brainstorm‘s barnstorming barrage of power metal more thunderous and ferocious than ever before! The new album features eleven songs across forty five pulsating minutes, ‘Plague Of Rats’ opening with the effects laden tension fuelled one minute instrumental ‘Intro’ building to a crescendo to set up (the album opener proper) ‘Beyond Enemy Lines’ to thunder forth at a hundred miles an hour – the band very quickly into their stride! The power and pace here is synonymous with German metal, Brainstorm flying high the metal flag of Germany for over thirty-five years, still producing sensational power metal, and still very much at the forefront of the worldwide metal scene!
A stunning opening salvo to grab the attention of everyone everywhere, the band heavy things up a bit with the more mid-paced thunder stomping ‘Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)’, the power-driven metal march shuddering the ground with immense force – the oomph at astonishing levels! As is the wow factor too, every listener’s jaw dropping to the floor as ‘Plague Of Rats’ powers on at full throttle with the highly head bang-able ‘False Memories’. The band are in their element here, driving forward with an all conquering purpose and intent that’s gonna send all the mosh pits around the world into fucking overdrive – each and every mosher head banging furiously! ‘The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)’ returns the earlier thunder stomping, Brainstorm mixing anthemic metal with a hymn-like swagger and just the tiniest amount of balladry to deliver a genre hopping, all consuming march that’s gonna attract a very wide audience!
‘Your Soul That Lingers In Me’ features additional vocals from Leaves’ Eyes singer Elina Siirala (Angel Nation), and maintains the previous song’s hymn-like ballad leanings – albeit at a much heavier tempo, the band pounding the ground harder than ever before, nearby walls wobbling and buildings shaking to their foundations! The intensity of the album since it began has been spot on, Brainstorm roaming all over, and in-between the genres of power and traditional heavy metal to keep listeners guessing as in which direction ‘Plague Of Rats’ will turn next! Any guesses where readers? Onto the autobahn at full steam ahead that’s where – ‘Masquerade Conspiracy’ entering the fray as the fastest song heard so far! Speed limits and traffic police are left in the band’s wake as ‘Masquerade Conspiracy’ roars on and on, the German metallers rocking heads faster and harder than ever! And with additional vocals from Alexander Krull (Atrocity, Leaves’ Eyes), ‘From Hell’ is a staggering mix of different vocal styles – the melodic metal roar of (Brainstorm singer) Franck and the harsh snarl from Krull is like chalk and cheese, black and white or on and off, yet it works very well!
There’s just no escaping the overwhelming intensity pouring outta ‘Plague Of Rats’, the album holding everyone’s attentions really tight as the band march straight into the epic genre of metal with ‘The Dark Of Night’ raising majesty to a whole new level! Brainstorm are striding tall and proud here with shoulders back and head held high as epic metal meets anthemic thunder to create an almighty barrage of barnstorming beauty – beauty which becomes beauty personified as pounding melodic power metal takes centre stage in the mighty shape of ‘Crawling’. Just how anyone can’t fall in love with this one is beyond my understanding, Brainstorm delivering a brand of mouth watering metal that’s gonna make everyone gush, drool and dribble! Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back! And bringing the curtain down on a great album, ‘Curtains Fall’ comes right at ya from the heart of the heavy/power metal genre, ‘Plague Of Rats’ maintaining its tight grip on the attentions of every listener, fan and follower from the very first minute up until the last!
Overall, a barnstorming album of energy driven, infectious power metal with a massive melodious intent and sky high head bang ability.
TRACKLIST
Intro
Beyond Enemy Lines
Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)
False Memories
The Shepherd Girl
Your Soul That Lingers In Me (feat. Elina Siirala)
Masquerade Conspiracy
From Hell (feat. Alex Krull)
The Dark Of Night
Crawling
Curtains Fall
Brainstorm: Facebook
Release Year: 2025
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire and Metal-Roos.
