“It’s rare that the slogan 'All killer, no filler' suits an album that well!”
ROCK HARD (DE), Marcus Schleutermann - 9/10 Points
“BRAINSTORM have proven that they belong to the very top of their genre once again.”
STORMBRINGER.AT, Stephan Scholz - 4,5/5 Points
“An enormously strong top 10 album of the year 2025 contender for all fans of good ol' metal
with a dose of US metal, who aren't afraid to also enjoy a decent dose of thrash.”
METAL FACTORY (CH), Tinu - 9,5/10 Points
“...there’s still no sign of the band’s overall quality dropping off anytime soon.”
MYGLOBALMIND.COM, Travis Green - 8/10 Points
“Get it, no questions asked.”
BRAVEWORDS.COM, Mark Gromen - 8/10 Points
Long-serving German metallers BRAINSTORM are starting the celebrations of their long-awaited new album “Plague Of Rats” (Reigning Phoenix Music) early! Tonight, the quintet are playing the first out of eight co-headline release shows with label mates ARION but they have also launched a lyric video for ‘Crawling,’ another track taken from their new record, which was highly praised by press throughout and will finally be unleashed tomorrow.
The song is based on strong synth leads entering one’s mind instantly - and there’s no chance to get rid of them anytime soon. Taken over by guitar duo Ihlenfeld/Loncaric, the melody settles even more, resulting in another new BRAINSTORM anthem while telling a critical story about expectations the society has from individuals and reminding fans of the importance of free speech.
“Another single on the album and perhaps the most melodic track on “Plague Of Rats.” ‘Crawling in’ and ‘crawling out’ suggest a feeling of being trapped and a desire for freedom. But what creeps in and where does it creep out? Having your own opinion has become very difficult in our world. In our society, we’re easily manipulated and lured with nice words to support or accept an opinion. For example, the line ‘I lured you with my sweet words’ is intended to clarify this somewhat. It’s good and important to represent completely contrary opinions sometimes. This is what today’s world has to endure. We don’t walk upright through a door but crawl through cracks to avoid attracting attention instead. If you don't follow the instructions or - in this case - manipulation, you're out. You fall off the grid and no longer belong. The message? Stand by yourself and your ideals...and don’t move like a skeleton or zombie,” states vocalist Andy B Franck.
Check out the lyric video: https://youtu.be/Ids2tik6It0
BRAINSTORM remain a vital force in the metal scene, seamlessly blending traditional elements with modern influences in their latest work, “Plague Of Rats.” Drawing inspiration from the rich and mystical narratives of ancient Indian civilization, this album delivers an energetic line-up of tracks devoid of slow songs or ballads, fully embodying the band’s dynamic and robust metal style. Expertly crafted with the collaboration of Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann (ORDEN OGAN, ANGUS McSIX) for mixing and mastering at Greenman Studios, and featuring striking artwork by Gyula Havancsák (DESTRUCTION, KREATOR, GRAVE DIGGER etc.) and photography by Alex Kühr, “Plague Of Rats” offers ten compelling new tracks that transport listeners to the captivating worlds of India and beyond.
Get “Plague Of Rats”: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/plagueofrats
