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August 29, 2008 |
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01. Worlds Are Comin' Through
02. Inside The Monster
03. All Those Words
04. Lifeline
05. Invisible Enemy
06. Heavenly
07. Painside
08. Despair To Drown
09. Mask Of Life
10. Even Higher
11. Burns My Soul
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Formed in Germany in 1989, BRAINSTORM still includes four of its original members: Torsten "Todde" Ihlenfeld (guitars), Milan "Mille" Loncaric (guitars), Dieter Bernert (drums), and Andreas Mailänder (bass). In 1999, the four musketeers joined forces with vocalist Andy B. Frank (SYMPHORCE), who replaced Marcus Jürgen. After the excellent "Soul Temptation" was released in 2003, it's very hard to imagine that BRAINSTORM could ever surpass that level of genius. Nevertheless, with their brand new album, "Liquid Monster", the band only go one step further, and as a result have created the ultimate Metal masterpiece! Andy B. Franck's voice is all about power and emotion in a register similar to Geoff Tate or Bruce Dickinson. The guitar work on this album is a combination of vintage-style NWOBHM with the best production today's resources have to offer and the rhythm section is right in your face.
"Liquid Monster" is an enormous metal attack. Opening the set is the super heavy "Worlds Are Comin" Through', and even if I've already heard it many times, I become so captivated by the songs' atmosphere and amazing groove that I am willing to drop everything I'm doing at that particular moment (not a good idea if you're weight lifting!). From then on, everything else just falls right into place. However, I just can't pick out a favorite track. Even though I immediately liked the super catchy "All Those Words", or the powerful crushers "Inside The Monster" and "Lifeline", all the other material contained herein just keeps growing on me without any effort.
The 11 compositions contained in this release are simply magical. "Liquid Monster" has the exact same effect on me as IRON MAIDEN's "The Number Of The Beast" did in 1982, METALLICA's 1984 masterpiece "Ride The Lightning", and QUEENSRŸCHE's conceptual triumph "Operation: Mindcrime" back in 1988. This is the kind of jewel I could see myself listening to for years to come and in turn, referring to as one of my all times favorites.
In closing, it would be unfair to label BRAINSTORM as just mere Power Metal. "Liquid Monster" goes way beyond that simple definition. It simply is the kind of album EVERY metal fan should possess! I highly recommend it.
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