Just when I was thinking that we were done with all the worthy releases of 2001, Brainstorm came to prove me wrong. I have to admit I didn't expect something like this. I was positive the band couldn't do something better than Ambiguity, but I was wrong once again.
Metus Mortis is the fourth album of the band and since they are Germans I am sure you can imagine what their musical style is. Yeah it is good power metal. This time they have moved to more classical forms but it has their typical melodies played a bit heavier than before.
Endless energy, powerful songs and nice choruses are some of the elements that make Metus Mortis a very successful release. The album contains some oriental tunes and that shows that the band begins to acquire a more Eastern direction. Actually Checkmate In Red looks like a successor of the Maharaja Palace and you can find many similarities between the two songs.
The lyrics are about the social problems the people deal with. You can see that intensely in the tracks Shadowland, Hollow Hideaway, Weakness Sows Its Seed, Into The Never and Strength Of Will. Andy B. Franck seems to be pretty concerned with nowadays' situation and he expresses his worries and feelings with his songs.
Brainstorm's new release doesn't lack anything. The production is a killer one with the drums sounding heavier and 'higher' this time, the riffs are spitting fire, the keys gives out a special effect, the mid-tempo songs are dynamites and the use of backing vocals gives an extra-power to the choruses. Generally the songs sound solid and made me bang my head for hours. You can't resist, you just surrender.
I shouldn't forget to mention the amazing cover art, that is one of the best heavy metal covers I have ever seen and completes perfectly the whole package. This is another proof of how professionally the band works. I'm sure that this album will please all fans of the band  and will bring to them many new ones also. So, in case you haven't checked out their work yet buy Metus Mortis and you won't be disappointed. Brain-Blaze!!