AMBIGUITY
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1. Crush Depth
2. Tear Down The Walls
3. Beyond My Destiny
4. Arena
5. Coming Closer
6. Darkest Silence
7. Maharaja Palace
8. Far Away
9. Demonsion
10. Lost Unseen
11. Perception Of Life
Bonus track limited edition:
Revenant
Line-up
Andy B. Franck · Vocals
Torsten Ihlenfeld · Guitars
Milan Loncaric · Guitars
Andy Mailänder · Bass
Dieter Bernert · Drums
Additional musicians: Michael "Miro" Rodenberger · keyboards
all screams and shouts by the Bloodhound-gang: Torsten I., Andy B., Dirk S., Milan L., Andreas M., Dieter B.
produced by Dirk Schlächter & Brainstorm · all songs written by arranged by Brainstorm
all lyrics and vocal-melody-lines by Andy B. Franck · (Andy B. Franck/Symphorce appears courtesy of Noise/Modern Music)
recorded at House Of Music Studios Winterbach
drums & vocals engineered by Dirk Schlächter · guitars & bass engineered by Dirk Schlächter & Torsten Ihlenfeld
mixed & mastered by Sascha Paeth at Sascha Paeth Studio, Wolfsburg
cover illustration by Thomas Holm · photos by D. Ramazani
2000 / Metal Blade: 3984-14330-2
AMBIGUITY LYRICS
CRUSH DEPTHFree your mind and the rest will follow! Say what you think and think the way you feel. It takes today's inner strength to make it through tomorrow.
How much time will it take
Till I know I'm stronger now,
how much brightness can I stand
before I see the light and how
Do I have to say the words
or do I have to face the fact
When I'm looking through the glass,
shows me memories to forget
Security success, shines on a pedestal
Swallowed in by your peers
Destructive atmosphere
So you're lost in the mind
and deeper you'll find
Crush depth to the end of light
forever you're here
I shed no tear
Crush depth to the endless might
screams in agony,
I lick my wounds and still
it's hide and seek
secret's found in therapy
I hear you coming faster
I can hear you down the hall
I'm out the door, I'm breaking through
I'm comin' after you
Security success, shines on a pedestal
Swallowed in by your peers
Destructive atmosphere
TEAR DOWN THE WALLS
The truth hurts. By destroying the world we destroy ourselves. We have been silent far too long, hiding in anonymity.
In a world, polluted inside,
corruption and chaos around,
the meaning of life, the principle right,
nothing in the depth of the light
You hear the screamings of the one
who soars upon the wind
He'll take you in his arms into a place of sin
Tear down the walls forever,
come down to break your chains,
it's time to break the silence
never run, you'll never run away
Watch out for, a torturing lust,
in mirrors you're facing the truth,
the hunter is back, the soul of a life,
wings of sadness blazing for you
a speeding slab of concrete hits me in the eye
no time to rest, no time to loose,
it's time to die
Tear down the walls forever,
come down to break your chains,
it's time to break the silence
never run, you'll never run away
Broken memories, salvation denied
Burning ashed they choke,
rip off the skin, from deep down inside,
molten fire flies through the sky
BEYOND MY DESTINY
Between love and hate! Borders slowly dissolve and somewhere down the line you forget about love and hate.
The doors are locked ,
try to get in,
the inner evil always will win,
my tools with me,
a simple plan,
can't understand you'd used the man
no suffering with my tongue inside,
a torture with a slow decay in the night,
electrified, just fade away,
nobody ever get's in my way
when will we be together, side by side...
time to start the feeding
it still bites, bites you and me
Beyond my destiny,
beyond, now suffering,
beyond my destiny
too far, but my love is real
I'm trying not to get out of bed,
depression, someone tell me wether I'm dead
I dare you to cross this line,
I always dared you, but now you're mine
no one can see you , no one will know,
sinking to an all-time..., all time low
I'm crucified, and years gone by
when damage has been done, another life
and still we are together, side by side
can even taste the bleeding,
it still shines, shines on you and me
you will never give up
you will never give in
give back my ticket
another ride begins
ARENA
Step into the light and join the everlasting battle between good and evil. A battle of the minds being fought each and every day.
Coming out of the black, taking over,
it's my way down, when I'm here alone.
Am I supposed to pretend I don't feel the pain,
like it happens again
Destroyed, we watch you bleed
coming through, what you need
My faith makes you cry,
handfull of lies
Out of my sight,
and out of my mind
but the vision is still the same
Arena
You'll never know why,
the skull of the blind
welcome into my arena
And we die, and we breed,
waisted hands that need to feed,
got to fill my empty stare
You're broken by words,
you're whipped by the lies
but they won't bring me down.
Shadows fall from the sky
Summon all to, heed their cry,
tempted in sin, it's no fate,
gather the souls, they hold within
so for the world, who's to blame,
woke up wet from a dream
tempted in sin, it's no fate,
gather the souls, they hold within
COMING CLOSER
They ask for your trust, but if you do trust them they leave you stranded with your disillusions. They, who are they?
In a room so dark and painful,
when fingers rule your eyes,
just trapped inside a cage
no fear, no trust nowhere to run to
but reachíng for the skies,
and falling onto your knees.
It's hard to trace,
an empty face
has faded with each passing year
Coming Closer
I swear I know how it feels,
from land to shining sea
Coming Closer
We deserve what we see,
in the land of the free
Wish that my thoughts were so simple
meaning of life, a reason to believe
Swallowed in by your peers,
destructive atmosphere
or just an excuse
No use in pretending
Ain't no pride in it at all,
is when you're standing out in the cold
DARKEST SILENCE
Enter the palace (instrumental introduction for Maharaja Palace)
MAHARAJA PALACE
Prisoners are guided through the golden halls of the palace of the souls. Fairytales that have lost their gruesome origin by being handed down from generation to generation.
Down in the darkest silence
just hear a lonely laughter
Except the sound of violence
Where the dagger rules the king
One hundred million people wrong
Don't be afraid to bare your soul
They clean the streets of scum
with darkness in their eyes
Afraid, that I don't know where,
of memories gone forever
The reason why I still care
blinded by the light
On golden gates you read the words
Reminding you of your memories
forever lost in the dungeon's might
Your screaming's my laughter,
a golden disaster
I'll take you forever
down where hell is
Now callin' my keeper,
my pleasure, soul reaver
A bitter taste of my deep, dark palace
Of female voices singin',
Where diamond glasses are shining,
When eagle-wings are bringing
you to my paradise
In a thousand stories a golden history
one left, tells you the true story,
of eastern religious slaves
Under a half-moon
blood and wine so colored red,
Last drink for your lifetime
two different stories,
one hero's dead
Together on your way
no pleasure but you'll stay,
but never will decay
Now you know where hell is
now you are my keeper,
my pleasure, soul reaver
a bitter taste of my deep, dark palace
ruler of the palace
FAR AWAY
To miss someone can be the worst experience you ever made. Hold on to your dreams, you will remember the good times, they're waiting for you.
It's been a long time coming
I'm tired of failing you, face the truth
when you're by my side
Choose to be blind
Change your mind
I loose my way but still you understand
Just hold my hand,
and always be so sure
Can't you ignore
drowning in...in a heartache
Aimlessly rushing leaves you with nothing
you need me,
I know where I'm going to,
Gonna take me there to you
nothing more to do
So far away from me
Something's comin' over me
So far away from me
Be forever the man I should be
Another dawn is yet to come
Carry on
The night has just begun
Troubled days have come and gone
How can I prove,
that I've done nothing wrong
all that I want
And it's plain to see
Don't blame me
When the moon gives it's light,
what takes me down to hell
I'll fly into a church of dreams,
they ring the bell
Hopeless souls, let you down
blame on myself,
Throw my heart in the wishing well
DEMONSION
A satanic dimension. Religious groups promise redemption in a new and different world. They tear you away from your family and friends and destroy your soul. There's no reason not to believe in yourself.
So long ago, I think it's so far way,
so many dreams gone by, but still on my way
in different worlds I've been,
searched through different times
another perfect day I know, again I'll try,
this time, I'll have no mercy,
don't care who you are,
I'll praise the lord
I hold my head up to a burning star
in fantasies my life makes it hard to complain
the demon and the holy ghost
teach me how to learn.
If I see you next to never
Day after day
How can we stay together?
If you turn me away
Demons walk over glass from a thousand mirrors
I saw my reflection stare me down
Underground, there you'll find
that your faith is your fear
Dream to fly, reason why
now we know it's why we're here
Welcome to the third demonsion, now here I am,
the innocent are trapped inside
others far away in a land
so litte hope remains alive
I only pray the dreams I leave you will survive
I see you now or never
Day after day
the tears are gone forever,
If you turn me away
LOST UNSEEN
You disappear, a nameless face in the crowd. It seems as if you were dispensable. But without you it wouldn't be the same crowd. You are the crowd. You are the face.
Denying all that's left behind
Through blindness in the mind
Engrossed in a distorted haze
Struggle through the awaited days
Lonely star without a face
no one will be safe
Here to hold on to memories, keep the faith
No one is safe
ancient gaze, into the sun
the time is on a secret place
your game is on the run
You wept in grief while I was gone
But now I'm back where I belong
desperate changes it goes through your world
into a cosmic sea
magic moments endlessly.
Sun shines on me
Close your eyes
Now you better run and hide
Close your eyes
It's the spirit of a life
Lost unseen
My mind is deeper than life
Close your eyes
Cause your soul is alive
Armed and ready I'm on the run
Food and shelter, I'm a loaded gun
I look at justice in a different light
Been to jail, it didn't make me right
It hardens me, the things I see
Now you will be safe
Our suffering won't always be
Forever safe
PERCEPTION OF LIFE
Where do you draw the line? What else has to happen? Stay away from our women and children. Don't keep quiet. You have to shout out loud to be heard.
On the edge of forever you'll fall
I'm here when you're watching the sky
The oceans of life, the lord of it all
Hopes and dreams on which will you rely
When you're closer I'm down in my dreams,
nothing better, again you fall
flashes on my T.V. screen
stories never told
Fly, fly, some of us will fly
Some others know the reasons why
Fly, fly , over to the sky
Perception of your life
Don't be afraid, what's there in the dark
Be afraid of what it hides
Life is a dream, not what it seems,
up from the ashes for the obscene
For a moment, words in my mouth
someone told me to stay,
they go unspoken, I hold my tongue
my mind gets in the way
Perception of my life
REVENANT (* Bonus Track)
He's back! Painful memories and a restless soul cause him to come back, back to save the souls which he lives off. But... he wants to save us.
The decimation of all that is pure,
a system that feeds their machine
with the souls of the lost,
destroying all from the known to the arcane
Reminding voices you fear since a long time
Darkness falls upon souls
Be blind to yourself, the evil inside,
manipulation of all your dreams
Crawling memories ment forever
The angels will sing the song for you
Someone save me.........Revenant
Send me a witness
You'll stand or burn
Looking down upon a world
desperate changes it goes through
in the arms of the lost, created by souls
the inner flesh, a deeper control
When you parted the sea
Will you save us from mysteries
The tears of remorse
Too late for regrets
Another world to forget
You watch 'em comin'one by one
You're on the prowl and they're on the run
Someone save me.........Revenant
Send me a witness
You'll stand or burn
Now you parted the sea
And you saved us from mysteries
emotions are gone, the suffering inside
Is this the truth , that you feel
AMBIGUITY REVIEWS
Metal Observer · 9/10 · Alex
Whoa! If this band continues to develop in that pace, you really have to fear for the future, hehe!
Freshly equipped with the former IVANHOE- and actual SYMPHORCE-vocalist Andy B.Franck, the guys from Southern Germany offer an album with "Ambiguity" that will catapult them near the Champions' League-places of the German First Division of Metal, because never before BRAINSTORM have been so diverse and good as now.
No matter which category of Power Metal you might take, the quintet excels in every one of them. After the fat opener "Crush Depth", which could also have stood on "Unholy", and the fast "Tear Down The Walls", "Beyond My Destiny" unveils a completely new facet of BRAINSTORM, because the 8+-minute-track shows a great mixture between orchestral and epic passages, but without letting go of the necessary heaviness.
Another highlight is "Maharaja Palace", with its oriental melodies at the beginning and also in the song itself, bearing its name deservedly. But also the ballad "Far Away" is a very fine piece, slightly reminiscent of SYMPHORCE, while the closing "Perception Of Life" lets your vertebrae crack once more with double-bass-driven Power Metal.
Who still calls BRAINSTORM a "hopeful band" after this album or negates their class, just cannot be a Metal-fan!
Metal Reviews · 73/100 · Danny
The album starts with a little nice intro and quickly merge into fast paced aggressive power/trash metal song. Unfortunately it's perhaps too aggressive, not much melody out there... with pretty annoying choirs on Chorus, darkly shouting "Crush Depth". As far as I'm concerned second track is not much better, the chorus is however a bit nicer, but again very trashy metal with almost no melody expect on the solo... coming out of nowhere and is a typical Fast As A Shark (Accept) tapping solo, pretty nice, but it's barely enough to save the song. Then, striking like a thunderstorm, comes an excellent song. I don't understand how Brainstorm can do such impressive songs when they can really make typical lifeless tunes as well. Beyond My Destiny is definitely the best song on this record, excellent ballad with strong moments and strong classical arrangements like you can find on Rage last album. Track 4 put me back on track with my first impression : boring. Although singer's voice sometimes remind me of Bruce Dickinson (don't misunderstand me :) ... still a lot of progress, but he's on the right direction), the album gets into too many directions and you cannot find a connecting line between all songs... The end of the album gets however better, with two nice songs Demonsion and Lost Unseen (now it would have been better to put them in the beginning of the CD : marketing wise... anyway). So I know I'm pretty tough with Brainstorm, but I am because I think this band as an enormous potential that they cannot focus it and deliver a strong record at the moment. Exactly like GammaRay did in their beginning as well. 2 or 3 excellent songs lost into a sea of different style songs, until a great album like Land Of The Free corrected that and defined their own well known and appreciated style. So Brainstorm is a band that has the potential to become a great band as well, and I like them much more than my quote can reflect and wish them to find their style... with songs like Beyond My Destiny or Unholy War from precedent album (one of the best true metal hymn I've heard) they could shake the True-Metal scene. And that's the problem... I really don't know if BS want to make trash or true metal, so in the end True Metal fans will be disapointed, but it should please Trash Metal fans.
Metal Rules · 4/5 · Rick
Why have I not heard of these guys before? I try to be as much of a student of metal as is possible but every now and then a gem like this slips by me for a little while. Well I happened to catch this one in time. Ambiguity is the latest CD from the German power/thrash band Brainstorm. Brainstorm have been around for 10 years. The released a few demos and had numerous line up changes till the signed with B.O. Records. They released their first CD entitled Hungry that same year and followed it up with Unholy in 1998. Not long after the recording of this CD vocalist Marcus Jurgens left the band. Brainstorm however found an excellent replacement in Henne Basse (ex Powerslave) to tour for the CD. Unfortunately, Henne left to concentrate of Metalium and left Brainstorm to find another vocalist. Well they struck gold with the acquisition of Ivanhoe and Symphorce vocalist Andy B. Franck. He is to be a permanent replacement but will also continue with Symphorce. The lineup for Ambiguity consists of Franck, Torsten Ihlenfeld: guitars, Milan Loncaric: guitar, Andy Mailander: bass, Deiter Bernert: drums with special guest Michael "Miro" Rodenberger: keyboards. Brainstorm also brought in a top notch production crew as Dirk Schlachter of Gamma Ray produced and Sasha Paeth mixed and mastered the disc.
As I have said, Brainstorm are a powermetal band which leans heavily towards the thrash end of the heavy metal spectrum. They kick off the Ambiguity with the double bass ripping track "Crush Depth". This is a gut pounding introduction to the sound of Brainstorm."Tear Down The Walls" kicks the CD into high gear with a thrashy track that, to me anyway, a tad like Annihilator. Deiter Bernert does some killer drumming on this track as he mixes things up reminding me of one of my favourite drummers, Bobby Jarzombek of Riot, Spastic Inc. and Halford. This is my favourite song on the disc followed closely by the pure powermetal exercise "Arena". Andy B. Franck proves that he is no slouch in the vocal department. He has to be one of the best voices in metal today. Not only does he have a powerful voice but he can also hit the high notes when the situation calls. "Maharaja Palace" incorporates a Middle Eastern feel that is a nice contrasting point to the many thrashers on the disc. The mid tempo "Beyond My Destiny" is a classic epic track and they even throw in a piano ballad titled "Far Away" which only adds to my respect of Andy B. Franck.
I only happened across this CD when I was checking out Andy B. Franck’s other band Symphorce. That is a great CD so I figured I would check out his other work. I think both Brainstorm and Andy B. Franck are a perfect fit for each other. The style that the band plays is perfectly suited to Franck’s powerful voice. Lets only hope that this relationship is as permanent as the band says.
Morrigan's Pit · 5/5 · Marlies
Things have been silent for a while because of the singer search, but beware... they're back with a vengeance!
I was very pleased when I heard that the new man on board is Symphorce-frontman Andy B. Franck. I knew he would be perfect for the job, but I never fully realized what an asset Andy would be to this band! His voice is in the same vein of Marcus', but his vocal lines are much more diverse! And so is the music... it's still that perfect combination of melody and the typical aggressive Brainstorm crunch, but more epic and so much more refined (as well as the songwriting). At times it reminds me of Angel Dust's jewel "Bleed".
"Crush Depth" starts with a crushing intro and has those US metal influences that make Brainstorm so different from most German power metal bands. The thrashier songs, e.g. "Tear Down The Walls" and "Coming Closer" (killer drums!), but also mid-tempo songs like "Arena", are even more powerful with Andy's somewhat darker and sometimes aggressive vocals; in "Beyond the Destiny", a beautiful epic song in the vein of "Bleed", the vocals are very melodic. "Darkest Silence/Maharaja Palace" is an extremely heavy song with an oriental touch. The beautiful ballad "Far Away" is followed by the crunchy Brainstorm riffs of "Demonsion" and "Lost Unseen" has some very progressive parts that even remind me of my old faves Deathrow! "Ambiguity" closes with a ripping "Perception Of Life", unfortunately (for me personally) with a way too 'happy' refrain.
My favorites are "Maharaja Palace" (h e a v y !!) and "Crush Depth" (KILLER intro!!!) and in general, as always, that typical Todde & Mille guitarstyle I love so much:)
Amazon · Andreas Stappert
Auch mit ihrem zweiten Album unterstreichen Brainstorm, dass sie zweifelsohne zu den größten nationalen Hoffnungen auf dem Power-Metal-Sektor gehören und auch international kaum einen Vergleich scheuen müssen.
Es dauert zwar ein Weilchen, bis der an modernere Stücke von Judas Priest angelehnte Opener "Crush Depth" richtig auf Touren kommt. Aber wenn der einmal angestrebte Power-Level erstmal erreicht ist, gibt es kein Vertun mehr. Mit der Wucht eines ungebremsten 40-Tonners und der Finesse eines hochgezüchteten Sportwagens donnert die Band durch einen ganzen Sack voll Power-Metal-Granaten, die allesamt im Langzeitgedächtnis detonieren und dort im positiven Sinne bleibende Schäden verursachen. Und auch die balladeske Seite kommt mit dem bombastisch aufgebauten "Beyond My Destiny" und dem von ruhigen Piano-Klängen untermalten und durch die Ausnahmestimme von Andy B. Franck (Symphorce/Ex-Ivanhoe) geprägten "Far Away" nicht zu kurz. 11 killers, no fillers!
Ancient Spirit · 9.5/12 · Joe
Bei BRAINSTORM muss man einfach den Namen der Homepage lesen, dann weiß man schon, wo’s langgeht: True Metal ist angesagt, und das schon seit mehr als 10 Jahren! Es war ja ziemlich klar, dass sich BRAINSTORM auch mit ihrem 3. Album nicht großartig verändern werden, obwohl es nach dem Release der 2. Scheibe „Unholy“ einen gewichtigen Line-up-Wechsel gab. So musste man nach dem Ausstieg von Shouter Marcus eine neuen Sänger suchen, den man in SYMPHORCE-Frontmann Andy B. Franck nach längerer Suche dann auch fand. Aber es liegt wohl nicht nur an ihm, dass mir „Ambiguity“ einen guten Zacken besser gefällt als der Vorgänger. Vielmehr habe ich den Eindruck gewonnen, dass die Songs dieses Mal einfach schlüssiger und eingängiger ausgefallen sind und eher auf den Punkt kommen. Stilistisch gibt’s immer noch alles vom flotten Speed-Hammer („Tear down the Walls“ oder dem Rausschmeißer „Perception of Life“) über typische Mid-Tempo-Tracks („Crush Depth“, „Arena“ oder der Double-Bass-Hymne „Coming Closer“) bis hin zu ruhigeren Klängen („Far away“) oder eher ungewöhnlichen Sachen wie dem coolen, orientalisch anmutenden „Maharaja Palce“ zu hören, es dürfte also kein BRAINSTORM-Fan enttäuscht sein. Und wer das deutsche Quintett noch nicht kennt und auf eine Mischung aus leicht teutonisch angehauchtem und amerikanischem Power Metal abfährt, sollte ebenfalls mal sein Ohr riskieren.
Bright Eyes · Tom Klaner
Die deutsche Power Metal Hoffnungen beruhen bereits seit deren Debut auf den Schultern von Brainstorm. "Das hammerharte "Crush Depth" ist dann auch gleich der perfekte Einstieg in diesen Reigen an Power Mucke. Der Tausendsassa Andy B. Franck legt zusammen mit seinen Mitstreitern ein Highlight nach dem anderen aufs Parkett. Ein absolut geiler Track ist "Tear Down The Walls" oder der Midtempostampfer "Beyond My Destiny", der ruhig beginnt und sich plötzlich als Ohrwurm erweist. Auch "Maharaja Palace" kommt mit seinem orientalischen Flair sehr gut rüber und zeigt Brainstorm von ihrer exotischen Seite. Ein gutes Stück Metal einfach. Zugreifen!
Metal Observer · 9/10 · Alex
Holla! Also wenn sich die Jungs so weiterentwickeln, dann krieg' ich echt schon Angst! Ausgestattet mit dem ehemaligen IVANHOE- und jetzigen SYMPHORCE-Sänger Andy B.Franck legen die Schwaben mit "Ambiguity" ein Album vor, das sie in der deutschen Metal-Bundesliga schon in die Nähe eines Champions' League-Platzes katapultiert, denn noch nie gaben sich BRAINSTORM so abwechslungsreich und klasse wie hier. Ganz egal welche Kategorie des Power Metal man nimmt, das Quintett meistert sie alle ganz hervorragend. Nach dem fetten Opener "Crush Depth", der auch auf der "Unholy"-Scheibe stehen hätte können, sowie dem schnellen "Tear Down The Walls" bewegt man sich beim darauffolgenden "Beyond My Destiny" auf gänzlich ungewohnten Pfaden, denn dieses 8+ Minuten-Epos kommt sehr orchestral und episch daher, läßt aber dennoch die notwendige Härte nicht vermissen. Ein weiteres absolutes Highlight ist das von orientalischen Melodien eingeleitete und immer wieder unterstützte "Maharaja Palace", das seinen Namen zurecht trägt. Aber auch die Ballade "Far Away" weiß absolut zu überzeugen und hat ein bisserle was von SYMPHORCE in sich, während das abschließende "Perception Of Life" zum Ausklang noch mal so richtig in die Double-Bass-Kiste reinlangt und einen noch mal so richtig durchschüttelt. Wer BRAINSTORM nach diesem Album immer noch als Nachwuchsband betitelt oder ihnen die Klasse abstreitet, der kann einfach kein Metal-Fan sein!
Powermetal.de · Herbert Chwalek
Das dritte Album der süddeutschen Power Metaller überrascht doch mit einigen Veränderungen. Neben dem neuen Sänger Andy B. Franck (Symphorce), der es locker mit Interimssänger Henning Basse aufnehmen kann, hat sich auch die Musik leicht gewandelt. Klar, speedige Power Metal Kracher wie das Highlight Tear Down The Walls oder Midtempobretter wie Crush Depth, Lost Unseen oder Arena waren auch auf den anderen Platten vertreten. Doch es gibt auch Neuerungen. Zum ersten Mal haben die Jungs auch eine Ballade, Far Away, aufgenommen, die dazu noch verdammt gut geworden ist. Mit Beyond My Destiny und Maharaja Palace gibt es diesmal auch zwei eher schleppende Songs, die sich aber auch hervorragend ins Gesamtbild einfügen. Der Bonus Track Revenant überrascht teilweise mit Death Metal lastigem Gesang, während Perception Of Life alle Helloween-Clones in Grund und Boden spielt. Ich hätte mir zwar noch ein paar Speed-Songs mehr gewünscht, immerhin haben Brainstorm bewiesen, dass sie das drauf haben, aber auch so ist die Platte eine astreine Power Metal Scheibe, deren Songs immer wieder Erinnerungen an Bands wie die alten Metal Church oder Vicious Rumors aufkommen lassen und sich wohltuend vom Einheitsbrei der Szene abheben. Dazu kommt noch die gute Produktion von Gamma Ray Basser Dirk Schlächter, so dass für Fans oben genannter Bands und Power Metaller hier Kaufzwang herrscht.
Rock Hard · 8.5/10 · Robert Pöpperl-Berenda
Delikate zweistimmige Gitarrensoli, ein überzeugender Sänger mit kraftvollen Spitzentönen und griffige Songs. Kurz: melodischer Power Metal vom Feinsten. Ihren Haupteinflüssen huldigen BRAINSTORM ziemlich unverwässert bei 'Beyond My Destiny' (Queensryche), 'Crush Depth' ("Jugulator"-Priest) und 'Perception Of Life' (Helloween), während die restlichen Songs die perfekte Kreuzung daraus darstellen. Der von Symphorce bekannte Sänger Andy B. Franck fügt sich nahtlos in die rekordverdächtig lange Liste guter BRAINSTORM-Sänger ein und lässt den Abgang von Henne Basse verschmerzen. Dass Andy auch seiner Ursprungsband treu bleiben will, verheißt aber nichts Gutes für die Zukunft. Um dieses Line-up wäre es wirklich schade, da selbst die besten Bands erst bei längerer Zusammenarbeit zu ihren Höchstleistungen aufgelaufen sind. So gesehen wäre also durchaus ein absoluter Höchstnoten-Überknaller beim nächsten oder übernächsten Album möglich. Vorerst sollte man sich aber einfach an "Ambiguity" erfreuen, das zweifellos eines der besten Alben des Jahres in dieser Sparte geworden ist und auch höchst interessante Liveauftritte verspricht.
Vampster · Wings
Hab’ ich was verpasst? Das sollen Brainstorm sein? Hatte die Jungs immer als solide, aber nicht sooo den Hammer im Gedächtnis. Und dann das. Ambiguity (der Titel wird wohl den einen oder anderen Käufer vor Probleme stellen...) ist vielleicht das beste europäische Power Metal Album des Jahres bisher, was bei der mannigfaltigen Konkurrenz doch schon einiges heißen soll. Dazu tragen eine klasse Produktion (von Dirk Schlächter) und sehr maßgeblich natürlich die neue Frontröhre Andy B. Franck (der parallel zu Brainstorm weiterhin bei Symphorce die Stimmbänder vibrieren lassen will) bei. In erster Linie aber das durchgehend hochklassige Songwriting. Exemplarisch kann man "Far Away" und "Demonsion" herausgreifen. Beide Tracks demonstrieren, hintereinanderstehend, die enorme Bandbreite des metallischen Brainstormings. "Far Away" als untypische Pianoballade, zeigt Andys Gesang von der gefühlvollen, sensiblen Seite, bevor "Demonsion" in bester deutscher Tradition als flotter, melodischer Klopfer eine ganz andere, typischere Facette der Band präsentiert. Aber keine Angst, durch Brecher wie "Lost Unseen" oder "Arena" regiert deutlich die Heavyness! Alles in allem erinnert mich Brainstorm’s dritte CD ein wenig an frühere Heaven’s Gate (ich wiederhole mich gerne: eine der unterbewertetsten deutschen Bands), treffendere Vergleiche fallen mir nicht ein, da sie das Kunststück geschafft haben, ein eindeutig in europäischen Traditionen verwurzeltes Power Metal Album einzuspielen, das melodisch, heavy, frisch und eigenständig ist, ohne auf den ausgelatschten Tralala-Pfad abzurutschen. Ein sehr gutes Album einer Band, die hoffentlich die Aufmerksamkeit erhält, die ihr zusteht. Ein Problem gibt es nur: wie soll man diese Leistung steigern?
Walls Of Fire · 8/10 · Jan
Da sind Sie also wieder, die Band, die mehr Sänger verschlingt, als eine Raubkatze bei Gladiatorspielen. Diese Jungens hier, kommen aber damit wohl sehr gut zurecht, wie die neue Scheibe beweist. Während das erste Stück noch straighter Heavy-Metal ist, wo der neue Sänger sich schon gut Gehör verschafft, geht es dann im High-Speed Tempo weiter. Das Stück "Tear down the Walls" ist Schlagzeugtechnisch so schnell eingespielt, als wollten sie einen Preis damit gewinnen, aber es kommt super rüber. Und spätestens beim dritten wirklich klasse gespielten 8 Minuten Smasher "Beyond my Destiny", vermisst man auch Herrn Basse nicht mehr, der ja bekanntlich zu der Skandaltruppe Mettalium gewechselt war. Der neue Sänger hat mindestens die selbe Klasse, und das tut dieser Scheibe richtig gut. Es ist eine richtig geile Heavy-Metal Scheibe, ohne viel Herumgeschnörkel. Es gibt richtig gute Stampfer wie "Arena", es gibt Halb-Balladen, Schmusesongs, und High-Speed Knaller, die der Nackenmuskulatur gar nicht gefallen, aber gut tun. Dazu wird niemals der melodische Part verloren und Keyboards hört man eigentlich zum Glück so gut wie keine. Also für alle, die auf richtig guten Metal stehen, und Musik die spaß macht, hier eine wirkliche Topempfehlung. Und man sieht mal wieder, Heavy-Metal wird niemals sterben.
