Out February 28th Via Reigning Phoenix Music

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German metal powerhouse BRAINSTORM has returned, armed with their latest studio album, Plague Of Rats, and their new label, Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), riding by their side. Arriving on February 28, 2025, Plague Of Rats marks a milestone in BRAINSTORM's storied career and revives the Indian themes first presented on Soul Temptation (2003). Having found their home among the ranks of RPM's prestigious roster of artists, much of Plague Of Rats marks a return to the band's roots and their fascination for Indian culture.

Plague Of Rats combines BRAINSTORM's affinity for Indian-inspired elements, distinctly powerful riffs, rousing melodies, and gripping choruses with modern influences and a fresh aggression. For years, the band has distinguished themselves from their peers by infusing their style with the enchanting melodies that pervade Indian music. BRAINSTORM has resurrected these musical elements on tracks such as "Beyond Enemy Lines", "Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)", and "The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)", while their lyrics tell tales inspired by Indian religions and mythology. The charging riffs and anthemic vocals evoke powerful feelings of nostalgia for power metal's earlier years, but the Indian elements propel the music forward into a modern context with gripping and original ideas. Regarding BRAINSTORM's evolution, vocalist Andy B. Franck comments, "After so many years, it's difficult to record an album and not find yourself repeating yourself. Plague Of Rats is perhaps the album where we managed to learn from past mistakes and combine all our strengths. I think we are all very proud of this album and can't wait to play the songs live."

Though the album leans heavily into BRAINSTORM's roots, the band has infused it with several distinct markers that herald their evolution toward a more aggressive style. Produced by Seeb Levermann (ORDEN OGAN, ANGUS MCSIX), Plague Of Rats captures the raw energy of BRAINSTORM's live performances in the studio. Loud, straightforward, and energetic from the first note to the last, Plague Of Rats stands out with its lack of quieter songs or ballads. The album reflects the unbridled, uncompromising energy and determination that defines BRAINSTORM's current musical direction. The band recruited renowned artist Gyula Havanczak, who has lent his skills to previous BRAINSTORM releases, to create the cover artwork for Plague Of Rats.

With Plague Of Rats, BRAINSTORM return stronger and more ambitious than ever before. The album and the band's new partnership with RPM represent the next major step in their career, proving that they still deserve a place among the leading names in German metal. Expressing both a deep love for the foundations of power metal and a relentless desire to explore and experiment, BRAINSTORM refuses to remain a relic of the past.

CD Track listing:

• "Beyond Enemy Lines"
• "Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)"
• "False Memories"
• "The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)"
• "Your Soul That Lingers In Me" (feat. Elina Siirala)
• "Masquerade Conspiracy"
• "From Hell" (feat. Alex Krull)
• "The Dark Of Night"
• "Crawling"
• "Celebrate Youth"
• "Curtains Fall"