Brainstorm - Memorial Roots

[Vicious Robbie]

I was looking forward to this release since the band is one of my favorites since a friend of mine played the Unholy album to me. I was wondering what Andy and the boyz would come up with after Downburst and I have to say that this is one of those albums where you'll have to be patient to really get into it.

The Bad: The awful thin guitar and snare sound that permeates this record really downgrades it from previous albums. It just takes away from the energy of the songs. Also there's some filler material (like opener Forsake What I Believed but this gets forgiven once Shiver kicks in!) in the record that makes me think the band is running out of gas a bit. The Good: When the songwriting clicks, it's magical.:hotjump: The Conjunction of Seven Planets it's a wonderful epic, Shiver is a great speedy track with a peculiar sound and a straight-ahead chorus. Melodic freaks will love Nailed Down Dreams and Victim offers a very interesting structure with a great chorus.

If you are a fan of the band, you won't be dissapointed with this record since the band tries a few new things here and there and most times it works. Still, the production begs for a remastering and remixing work for me as it could really enhance the experience for the album. Brainiacs, rock on!

 

[poundingmetal74]

Got to meet Andy and their bassist (blanking on his name) @ PPUSA. Their set was awesome, ended up watching it with Rolando.

They did 2 new songs, the opening song they did that was new was unremarkable but the other song Shiver was great. I'm really looking forward to hearing the new disc.

 

[Vicious Robbie]

They did 2 new songs, the opening song they did that was new was unremarkable but the other song Shiver was great. I'm really looking forward to hearing the new disc.

Shiver is one of the highlights of this new record so you are totally correct in your asessment. The unremarkable track would be Forsake what I Believe and you are also correct about that one as well. I think you'll like the new disc, no doubt!

 

[poundingmetal74]

Robbie, listening now and the guitar tone isn't really bad, it's just missing the low end. It's nowhere near as bad as Exciter's New Testament or Randy Rhoades' (Sorry Clam, I liked the disc but the tone on the guitars was bleh!) I know why people are bitching about the album... it's DYNAMIC!!!! I applaud Brainstorm for this as an audio nut. I don't like the snare sound very much, but it's dynamic! The music breathes and I can crank it!

If you look in the general thread sticky where I explain modern mastering, the waves for Brainstorm actually look close to Painkiller! The guitar tone sounds better if you turn it up.

With that said, they really could have used Dennis Ward mixing like he did on Liquid Monster.

 

[Wyvern]

It's nowhere near as bad as Exciter's New Testament or Randy Rhoades' (Sorry Clam, I liked the disc but the tone on the guitars was bleh!)

"New Testament" was a re-recording of old Exciter songs with a line-up that actually didn't included Clammy at the time. I bought it because I thought he was playing there , and was my first contact with Exciter actually . Then of course I went for the classics

Can't comment on the guitar tone tho', you know I'm not into production. As far as the music sounds like music to my ears and the volume is not too low, works for me.

 

[Vicious Robbie]

Robbie, listening now and the guitar tone isn't really bad, it's just missing the low end.

If you look in the general thread sticky where I explain modern mastering, the waves for Brainstorm actually look close to Painkiller! The guitar tone sounds better if you turn it up.

With that said, they really could have used Dennis Ward mixing like he did on Liquid Monster.

Thanks for the explanation, pounding. I'll definitely check out that thread. I've been listening to the record a lot more and I'm getting used to the sound now:Spin:

I do miss the low end though

If only Dennis Ward had been there *sigh*