In 1989 the German heavy metal outfit Brainstorm originated when guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric joined forces with drummer Dieter Bernert. They immediately turned to laying down their opening demo, "Hand of Doom." Bassist Andreas Mailänder soon completed the rhythm section, and after cycling through several unreliable singers, Marcus Jürgens finally settled into the frontman role while repeated demos gradually advanced the group toward its ambitions. The band’s first album, Hungry, arrived in 1997 and earned live support through runs with Morgana Lefay and Skyclad, clearing the way for the next studio effort the following year. Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Angra, etc.), that sophomore release was titled Unholy. Jürgens exited shortly afterward, prompting the interim addition of Henne Basse for touring dates until Andy B. Franck became the permanent vocalist. A subsequent contract with Metal Blade set off a demanding sequence of sessions that produced Ambiguity in 2000, Metus Mortis in 2001, and Soul Temptation in 2003. Persistent festival slots and European tours alongside Armored Saint and King Diamond meanwhile positioned Brainstorm among Germany’s most prominent and esteemed power metal acts—an achievement worth noting.
