Southern German hard ‘n’ heavy powerhouse BRAINSTORM is finally breaking their musical silence. Their upcoming album, Plague of Rats, is set to drop on February 28, 2024, through their new label partner, RPM. Today, they’ve given fans a taste of what’s to come with the release of the album’s first single. Rest assured, the band hasn’t ventured into fairy-tale territory with this India-inspired record. Instead, they deliver a pure heavy metal anthem with the track “Garuda (Eater of Snakes).”
The single tells the tale of Garuda, the mythological half-human, half-eagle creature known for slaying snakes and serving as the messenger of the gods. With its powerful riffs and Far Eastern melodies, “Garuda (Eater of Snakes)” bursts forth as a dynamic and fitting introduction to Plague of Rats. This track doesn’t just live up to its name—it’s a striking first glimpse into the album’s sonic landscape. The accompanying music video, crafted by Mirko Witzki, delves deeper into the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and legends, immersing fans in this mystical world.
“The wait is over, and we couldn’t be happier to finally release new music to our fans. ‘Garuda’ is the perfect introduction to our upcoming album ‘Plague of Rats’: it’s heavy and powerful, and you feel connected to the music, the beat, the riffs, and the melodies immediately!” comments guitarist Torsten “Todde” Ihlenfeld.
Watch the official music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giLwrNqQpTQ
Stream/purchase the song: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/garudaPR
Plague of Rats can now be pre-ordered in your preferred physical format (earbook, digipak-CD, colored vinyl, ticket bundle), pre-saved on your favorite digital service provider (DSP), or pre-ordered digitally (including the instant-grat track “Garuda (Eater of Snakes)”): https://brainstorm.rpm.link/plagueofratsPR
Once caught by “Garuda (Eater of Snakes),” which will likely find its way to the band’s future set list, European metalheads should make sure to attend BRAINSTORM’s eight-date release tour alongside Arion and Stranger Vision. The tour kicks off on the night before the official Plague of Rats release date in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Dates and ticket info can be found below!
Though BRAINSTORM have a long history — much like the ancient Indus civilization, the main force behind Plague Of Rats — they’re still in tune with the times. Their latest opus combines signature elements with a fresh, modern edge that’s clearly left its mark on the album. Plus, the band’s ‘attack mode’ approach shines through with a line-up of powerful tracks – no slow songs, no ballads, just pure, high-energy metal. Created alongside their trusted team — Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann for mixing and mastering at Greenman Studios, Gyula Havancsák on artwork, and Alex Kühr on photography — this album delivers ten epic new tracks that will transport fans to the captivating world of India and beyond.
BRAINSTORM live:
“The Plague That Burns The Sky”
BRAINSTORM + ARION
Co-Headline Tour 2025
w/ STRANGER VISION
Presented by Rock Hard, musix, metal.de, powermetal.de, Decibel-Touring & RPM
27.02.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
28.02.2025 CH Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
01.03.2025 DE Essen – Turock
02.03.2025 DE Mannheim – 7er Club
03.03.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Halle)
04.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Bahnhof Pauli
05.03.2025 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum
06.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
Excl. CD+ticket bundles: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/shopPR
Regular tickets: https://linktr.ee/brainstormarion
More upcoming BRAINSTORM live dates:
08.03.2025 NL Harderwijk – Estrado
09.03.2025 NL Gouda – StudioGonz
05. – 08.06.2025 DE Oettingen i. Bay. – Camping Battleground Festival
24.08.2025 PL Pindelo dos Milagres – Milagre Metaleiro Open Air
About BRAINSTORM
BRAINSTORM boasts an unparalleled career: since their 1997 debut, Hungry, the band has continued to evolve and solidify their position in the international metal scene with standout albums like Metus Mortis (2001), Soul Temptation (2003), Liquid Monster (2005), and more recent releases such as Midnight Ghost (2018) and Wall of Skulls (2021). Having toured worldwide and achieved impressive chart positions in recent years, BRAINSTORM remains as determined as ever to set new milestones instead of resting on their laurels.
BRAINSTORM are:
- Andy B. Franck | Vocals
- Torsten Ihlenfeld | Guitars
- Milan Loncaric | Guitars
- Jim Ramses | Bass
- Dieter Bernert | Drums
More on BRAINSTORM:
brainstorm-web.net | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | RPM
About Reigning Phoenix Music
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. But most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to “Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)” along with other new tracks in the RPM New Releases playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR.
More on RPM:
reigningphoenixmusic.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube
Tracklisting
- Beyond Enemy Lines
- Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)
- Fale 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 [RICK SPRINGFIELD Cover; excl. digipak/earbook bonus track]
- Curtains Fall