Archive for german power metal

BRAINSTORM – Kick Off Tour with ANGUS McSIX and Release Cover Version Of “Celebrate Youth”

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal albums, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on March 13, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo Credit: Markus Wolf Fotografie

Stream “Celebrate Youth” HERE: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/youthPR

Today, German power metal force BRAINSTORM are kicking off their upcoming tour run and celebrate the moment with a special release: their cover version of “Celebrate Youth” is now available digitally for the very first time! The track was previously only available as an exclusive CD bonus track on their latest studio album Plague Of Rats, released via RPM in 2025.

“With ‘Celebrate Youth,’ we chose a song that meant a lot to me personally in my early Youth,” Andy B. Franck reveals. “Yes, not a metal song but a song that perfectly reflected that era and my feeling as a young person of wanting to achieve a lot. Listening to the younger generation, giving them a voice… I don’t think I’ve ever really matured that much deep down, I’ve retained that feeling and still think and feel like a young guy. This thing rocks, and we had a lot of fun recording it. The Youth, then and now, needs to be heard and understood. This song is the perfect statement about that topic.”

Stream the single here: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/youthPR

The digital release follows the overwhelming response to the band’s cover of Don Henley‘s classic “Boys Of Summer”, which was released in August last year and quickly gained strong traction across streaming platforms.

Released in early 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music, Plague Of Rats marks another milestone in BRAINSTORM’s long career. The album combines the band’s trademark sound – powerful riffs, soaring melodies and gripping choruses, with a renewed intensity and modern production. With over nearly three decades of history, worldwide touring and numerous chart placements, BRAINSTORM remain one of the most consistent and respected acts in German metal. Order Plague Of Rats here: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/plagueofratsPR

BRAINSTORM:
Andy B. Franck (Vocals)
Torsten Ihlenfeld (Guitars)
Milan Loncaric (Guitars)
Danij Perl (Bass)
Kevin Lütolf (Drums)

BRAINSTORM Tour Dates
supporting ANGUS McSIX – Album Release Tour w/ Bloodbound

12.03.2026 (DE) Hamburg, Kent Club
13.03.2026 (DE) Leipzig, Hellraiser
14.03.2026 (DE) Regensburg, Eventhall Airport
15.03.2026 (DE) München, Backstage
16.03.2026 (DE) Nürnberg, Hirsch
17.03.2026 (DE) Berlin, Lido
18.03.2026 (DE) Saarbrücken, Garage
19.03.2026 (DE) Heidelberg, Halle 02
20.03.2026 (DE) Oberhausen, Kulttempel
21.03.2026 (DE) Andernach, Live Club
22.03.2026 (NL) Eindhoven, Effenaar

More on BRAINSTORM:
Website | https://www.brainstorm-web.net 
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/officialbrainstorm 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/official.brainstorm/ 

Source: C Squared Music

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GAMMA RAY – German Power Metal Masters Premiere New Tracks From “Empire Of The Undead”; Album To Drop Next Month

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, news, Power Metal, rock music, rock music news, world news with tags , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2014 by Metal Odyssey

Gamma Ray - Empire Of The Undead - promo cover pic - 2014

In celebration of its forthcoming release, Germany power metal masters, GAMMA RAY, offer up a whopping six tracks from their forthcoming new full-length, Empire Of The Undead, set for release next month.

In a mammoth, collaborative promotional effort, Bravewords, Decibel Magazine and Metal Insider, unite, each bringing fans two tracks from the record.

Sample “Avalon” and “Pale Rider,” currently streaming at

Bravewords HERE.

“Born To Fly” and “Master Of Confusion,” at Decibel HERE.

“Time For Deliverance” and “Demonseed,” at Metal Insider HERE.

A record that almost wasn’t, Empire Of The Undead was composed throughout 2013 with Eike Freese (Dark Age) at the mixing desk alongside bassist/co-writer, Dirk Schlächter, and was nearing completion before Hammer Studios, their home, rehearsal space, and meeting point for many Metal bands throughout Germany, had burned down leaving much of its contents in ruins. Fortunately, the Empire Of The Undead masters managed to make it through unscathed. “If this could not stop us, nothing ever will,” joked light-hearted GAMMA RAY vocalist Kai Hansen, adding that, “We got rid of a lot of shit that we gathered there. Unfortunately, a lot of good equipment as well. Anyhow, we look towards the future, we saved the production and we can continue now in this new place.”

Gamma Ray - Classic Logo - B&W!

More than four years since the release of their critically acclaimed tenth full-length, To The Metal!, Empire Of The Undead is over an hour-long and showcases a band more ambitious and variable than ever before. From the symphonic bombast of album opener “Avalon,” to the high-speed, Judas Priestian drive of “Hellbent,” GAMMA RAY manages to tread through an entire spectrum of Heavy Metal. Elsewhere the band seamlessly explores the realms of driving Hard Rock (“Pale Rider”) – a stylistic element Hansen honed from his time with side project Unisonic; triumphant Power Metal anthems (“I Will Return”) and emotional Rock ballads (“Time For Deliverance”).

Adding to its sonic diversity is the notable variation in Hansen’s characteristically high-pitched, voice. On “Master Of Confusion” from 2013’s eponymous EP, Hansen’s timbre is reminiscent of Billy Idol while the anthemesque “Seven” is suddenly punctuated by a sinister recitative, cleverly decelerating the song’s speed before finally exploding in a great choir finale.

Gamma Ray - Empire Of The Undead - promo cover pic - 2014

“As far as variation is concerned, I think that’s something we always craved for, something we always needed. To just do the same thing on ten or eleven songs is boring in some way,” Hansen remarks. “I always liked albums that had a certain variety in style in some way, as long as everything fits together. We always took the freedom to do what we liked and since I like so many different things, this album has become quite manifold…There’s definitely more bite and heaviness on this album. Since I’ve been pretty busy with Unisonic, which is more on the hardrock /AOR side of things, there has definitely been a need to be as bad as can be with GAMMA RAY now….”

Empire Of The Undead will be released in North America on CD, LP and digitally via Armoury Records in conjunction with earMusic on April 15, 2014.

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(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on GAMMA RAY:

http://www.gammaray.org

http://www.facebook.com/gammarayofficial

Armoury Records - logo - B&W

EarMusic - logo - 2013

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Website: http://www.ear-music.net

Stone - Motorhead Tee pic:small

LONG LIVE GAMMA RAY.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

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