Customer Reviews

Downburst

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this day and age there seem to be so many specific genres that micro define the type of metal we listen to (prog/power/melo-death/core/ ambient/etc..) I always find it refreshing to listen to Brainstorm because they are just straight up in your face Metal! Straight up Metal with just a dash of thrash thrown in for good measure just to ensure that the music retains a lot of balls and avoids sounding overly sappy. A trap too many other melodic metal bands seem to fall into. Take Rage or Angel Dust for a good comparison. If you are not familiar with those more underground bands take Metal Church, Saxon, and Megadeth then blend them together in a modernized concoction and you've pretty much got Brainstorm!

This album pretty much picks up where previous albums Liquid Monster and Soul Temptation leave off. Razor sharp heavy riffing, killer songwriting, catchy hooks, and the world class power vocals of Andy Frank! There is a little more use of keyboards for backround atmosphere but they don't detract from the heaviness at all. Also the sound is huge and powerful like always but this time even more to ensure the listener is fully beaten down and crushed. You can tell a lot of attention to detail was paid with some eletronic elements added and specific layers of depth are present as well.

Overall I would say this is Brainstorm's best album front to back. Every song on this album is killer with the exception of tracks 6 and 8 being just good. Heck even the last 2 tracks on the album are amongst the best. Brainstorm has unleashed a punishing album with Downburst and set forth the album to beat in 2008!!

This album just didn't do much for me, especially after "Liquid Monster" and "Soul Temptation." The songs seem to lack direction and organization, with the music being much less catchy and more random. I still give it three stars because the technical aspects of the album (sound, vocals, guitar work, etc.) are excellent, but it's definitely not one of Brainstorms better efforts. The only catchy tune on the albums is "Fire Walk with Me"

I really enjoy Brainstorm's sound, it just has something about it I really get off on. This release is sort of a new beginning for them as they have lost one of their members to retirement so to speak.

It does indeed sound like any other Brainstorm release which of course is a good thing. However it's my opinion and my opinion only here. this release is still not there just yet. It's close but not quite. Brainstorm's best release was and still is Liquid Monster!!

I'm not disappointed with this cd at all, it's a very good release, but I guess I was hoping for more in some ways. Again it rocks, but it's missing just a wee bit to put it over the top.

Production wise it sounds awesome and the overall song structures are very good indeed!

Check it out!

Aaaah another year of metal upon us & to start it off a release from one of metal's finest, Brainstorm! If you've been following these guys over the years then you know that these guys are not only one of the heaviest bands out there, but also one of the most melodic & better produced, & deliver the goods with each album. 'Downburst' is really nothing new in Brainstorm's sound arsenal but like I alluded to before it's another one of those albums that continues their trademark sound & style & it's certainly worth adding to your metal collection. Standout tracks are "How Do You Feel," "Frozen," "Stained with Sin," & "End in Sorrow." Pick it up!

3.5 stars. Brainstorm's "Downburst" has superb production sound and solid musicianship throughout but is nowhere near the creative level of "Soul Temptation" nor does it have the infectious catchiness of "Liquid Monster". There aren't nearly as many great choruses, only the occasional flighty guitar solo, and the vocals are not as inspired as on their previous two albums. Having noted these negatives I should point out that I think highly of their previous two albums so a letdown isn't all that surprising. This is not a bad album at all it's just that the songs all range from average to good with very little greatness anywhere. There isn't a fantastic song anywhere on this release, it's just decent overall. Diehard fans will undoubtedly wonder why I downgraded this album, but there are many great bands out there making better music than I found here. Except for the occasional flash I believe "Downburst" to be slightly disappointing, but certainly not horrible in any way. Fans should sample tracks before deciding to buy, while newcomers would do well to pick up either "Soul Temptation" or "Liquid Monster" as a first purchase. Later.

It seems like if you're already a BRAINSTORM fan you didn't think so much of this CD. This was the first BRAINSTORM CD I purchase and I absolutely LOVE IT and can't get enough of it! All the clips available online appealed to me so I took a chance and ordered it and I am completely satisfied. I have since purchased two other BRAINSTORM CD's but have only had a chance to listen to Liquid Monster so far. Although I enjoy that one also, I think that this band made a huge leap forward in every way from that one to Downburst. I'd even say Downburst is more heavy than Liquid Monster.

I don't know how this band slipped under my radar for so many years but I'm glad I finally caught up with them. If you like bands like Axel Rudi Pell, Firewind, Hammerfall, Pyramaze, then you'll definitely need to check this out. I can even hear a large Judas Priest influence. I like all those bands, but sometimes they just do too much of that double bass drum running the whole darn song and vocals up in the stratosphere for my tastes. I prefer the heavier down to earth singing and slower but powerful crunchy guitar riffs. Every song on Downburst is extremely addicting and catchy. Full of colorful lyrics and addicting syncopated rhythm sections. If you like the clips, you'll surely like the album. It's not one of those where the clips sound nothing like the songs. Also, plenty of excellent guitar work on this album. I saw the review that said something that indicated there weren't solos or any mentionable lead guitar action, or they were mediocre, but I can't imagine that is the same Downburst CD I'm listening to.

Brainstorm are an outstanding Metal band. The vocalist is one of the best in modern Metal with a clean powerful voice. The songwriting is superb and you will find yourself getting hooked on every song. These guys get better with every release. If you like Tad Morose, Dream Evil, or Primal Fear you'll get into Brainstorm as well. Why won't all of these fantastic European bands tour the U.S.??

This CD is good, you've got some good lead guitar work, and some good vocal melodies. Other than that, there's really not a whole lot to this CD.

But it just gets boring to my ears after the first songs. They don't really know how to structure songs that well (anymore, their older material was so much better), and the drumwork is a letdown.

They're a great band... but this CD is not their best.

This is my second favorite Brainstorm album thus far, only behind Soul Temptation.

The instrumentals seem to be a bit more varied and punchy than the last album, and overall when combined with consistently good vocals, combine to create a solid effort for the band.