Divine Inner-vention!
Okay, let’s get the similarities out of the way, hints, nods and winks to Armored Saint, The Scorpions, Dio, Nightwish and Dragonforce, this was a record I was not expecting to land on my desk; now that it has, I have swallowed it whole and it is chomping away merrily at my insides. I’ll have lost half my vital organs listening to this.
Using music to walk us through tales from our childhood that would normally scare us like the monster under the bed, or in the closet, you would be well advised to throw back the duvet and embrace this gargantuan beast of a record with open arms. We have on offer myths, legends, and our own fears all set to this classically influenced symphony.
Opener “Devil’s Eye” reminds me of “Reign of Fire” by Armored Saint, it sets a standard you expect, and the brilliance continues with “Revealing the Darkness” and the inviting lyric “The blood you smell”.
Its full steam ahead now, keeping the fire burning, wildly and brightly.
“Ravenous Minds” is the perfect choice for a single, guaranteed to attract and hold onto the listener and leave them wailing for more. “Say a prayer, cast a spell” – don’t mind if I do guys.
“The Pyre” continues the runaway train momentum here and gives you another chorus that will chase you down, it will catch you and it will devour you.
“Jeanne Boulet (1764)” is named after the first victim of the Beast of Gevaudan that rampaged through this remote area of France leaving death and destruction in its wake. Much like our “Beast of Bodmin” only more vicious and more cut-throat. The tale is told through this graceful and dynamic ballad, such elegance and class. This is the type of storm you would gladly weather,
“Divine Inner Ghost”, my favourite – huge chorus, clever use of melody to fuse the song together, it soars skywards, tearing through the stratosphere to say hi to the man in the moon.
I am on my feet punching the air with both fists, a phenomenal, joy to the world record!
“I can’t escape the fear inside” from “When Pain Becomes Real” puts the power in power metal, it has filled a void deep inside, one I didn’t know existed.
The riffs here are quite intricate; taking their time to weave in and out, circling their target, before honing in and finally settling down to sleep – not unlike a smurgling cat with its claws piercing the freshly dried laundry. This record is full to the brim with proper sing out loud rock tunes; you can see the arenas erupting right now.
“The quest for all my inner freedom” opens “The Four Blessings”. It is a theme that reverberates all around, it is what we all seek, and it is what Brainstorm remind us of so eloquently.
Heaven forfend that I find any flaws; accomplished, heartening, exhilarating and worth getting your ears thrashed for.
That bands of this calibre are still producing material of this quality, count your blessings, my friends.
The lightning and the thunder continue with “Haunting Voices” as we near the end of this incredible musical experience, seriously I need to replenish my list of adjectives and other descriptive vocabulary.
“I try to escape but I stumble” is the panic infused lyric that urges us to leave now. The chorus is quite spooky, I felt the haunting presence of Mrs Baylock (see The Omen) behind me.
Truly captivating; taking the theme of our childhood fears to a different level in a formidable yet celebratory tone. We have an absolutely stunning power ballad in “The Path” to finish this album that has not disappointed, quite exemplary really, a well-deserved pat on the back to everyone involved in creating this record.
Arise, one and all, join me in headbanging heaven as we explode into the night sky and meet with our midnight ghost.
Azra Pathan
Brainstorm – Midnight Ghost out 28th September on AFM Records