Recent Reviews

May 2025

March 2025

February 2025

January 2025

December 2024

November 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Brainstorm: Scary Creatures
Brainstorm Scary Creatures CD Album Review

Brainstorm: Scary Creatures

Heavy/Power Metal
4.0/5.0

When I saw the new Brainstorm album promo arrive in my email I hesitated. I wasn't sure I wanted to review Scary Monsters. Why? Because I wasn't all that impressed with 2014's Firesoul. I compared that album Metallica's heavy metal roadkill St. Anger. Not so positive. But apparently I was wrong. The album became their highest charting album. Oh well. All music is subjective.

Brainstorm Scary Creatures Band Photo

Brainstorm

Scary Monsters, however, for me, is definitely a step up from the previous. Some things remain like the immense wall of riffage throughout, varying from thrash to power metal levels. But the two things I panned, the muted vocal arrangements and lack of significant guitar solos, have improved. Whether by mix or mastering, Andy Franck's vocals are more forward, not by leaps and bounds, but much better. And there are some breathtaking fiery guitar solos, notable in the title track, yet also in Scars In Your Eyes, Take Me To The Never, and We Are.

There's also two other elements that rose to the top. There's quite a few songs here that move on pure heavy metal rock groove, you know, the toe-tapping variety. Take Me To The Never is one, but also Sky Among Clouds and We Are. It comes down to a solid combination of guitar harmony and basic rhythm section groove. The other thing is the drumming. Dieter Bernert is on fire, his groove and pacing amazing. Put together with the bass line as within We Are, the drums are inspired. In the end, Brainstorm fans will find Scary Monsters a fine compliment to the previous Firesoul, both an continuation and advancement of the Brainstorm power metal sound.

Brainstorm - We Are


Share This Review with Your Friends





CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

In Short

Brainstorm fans will find Scary Monsters a fine compliment to the previous Firesoul, both an continuation and advancement of the Brainstorm power metal sound.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Gotthard: Stereo Crush Album Review

Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]