Heidenheim, Bayern based Heavyweight Metal band BRAINSTORM, centred upon guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric on guitar and drummer Dieter Bernet, have risen over a series of rapidly improving albums to international contendors.The band dates back to 1989, the group issuing their debut demo, 'Hand Of Doom', in March the following year. BRAINSTORM at this juncture comprised singer Stefan Fronk, guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, bassist Peter Waldstätter and drummer Dieter Bernert. The band cut their teeth on the live circuit guesting for artists such as EXCITER, RAGE and STORMWITCH. Bass player Andreas Mailänder, a former member of Thrashers TOXIC SHOCK, teamed up with BRAINSTORM in April 1991.

A second cassette, entitled 'Heart Of Hate' released in April 1993, witnessed an all new formation, now involving vocalist Marcus Jürgens, guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, bass player Andreas Mailänder with Dieter Berner on drums. Solid reviews gave vent to a third tape, 'The 5th Reason' in March 1994. It would be BRAINSTORM's fourth demo, a two track effort simply dubbed 'Promotape '96', that would have them elevated to 'Newcomer of the month' status according to 'Rock Hard' magazine and in turn led to a deal with the newly established Bossy Ogress Records.

The band's 'Hungry' debut album, issued on April 14th 1997 as Bossy Ogress' first release catalogue number BO 001, included guest vocals by ex-GAMMA RAY frontman Ralf Scheepers on the closing track 'Mr. Know-It-All'. Promoting the album, BRAINSTORM toured Germany as support to MORGANA LEFAY and SOLITUDE AETURNUS to push the record after its release in 1997. A further round of dates saw the band on a European package billing with SKYCLAD and MARAYA.

BRAINSTORM were by now paving their way into the German Metal major league with second album 'Unholy'. The record, emerging in August 1998, would witness a rare musical departure for the band with the closing track being a cover of the old Rock n' Roll number 'Wooly Bully'. Limited edition variants came packaged in a metal box sleeve. The Japanese release also boasted an extra track 'Up From The Ashes'.

Despite progress BRAINSTORM found themselves in the unenviable situation of being without a singer just after the album release. Ex-singer Marcus Jürgens later fronted KASHMYR and returned with the PUMP 2003 album ''Against Everyone's Advice'. Matters were solved for BRAINSTORM when Henne Basse signed on in time for tour operations with ICED EARTH, SENTENCED and WICKED ANGEL.

To open 1999 the band toured Italy in alliance with LABYRITH. However, upon their return Basse decamped to join the METALIUM project band assembled by Lars Ratz. BRAINSTORM regrouped quickly, enlisting Dirk Barron for a 'Wacken Open Air' festival performance but would eventually decide on Andy B. Franck of SYMPHORCE as a permanent successor.

BRAINSTORM switched to the Metal Blade label for their third effort, July 2000's 'Ambiguity'. BRAINSTORM would also donate their version of 'Savage' to the HELLOWEEN tribute album 'Keepers Of Jericho'. Promoting 'Ambiguity', BRAINSTORM toured as support to ARMORED SAINT, JACOB'S DREAM and KING DIAMOND in Europe during 2000. Drummer Dieter Bernert would found the project band TAROT'S MYST.

Upfront of recording the group's fourth album, 'Metus Mortis' produced by Achim Köhler, BRAINSTORM would put in high profile shows at both the 'Bang Your Head' and 'Wacken Open Air' festivals. The truly exceptional 'Metus Mortis' album arrived in October 2001, Japanese editions replete with an extra three tracks, 'Face Down', '(E.O.C.) Cross God's Face' and the HELLOWEEN cover 'Savage'. In addition, digipack's also hosted a hidden track 'Don't Wait For Me'. Reaction from the media to the album was enthusiastic to say the least, the highly influential German magazine 'Rock Hard' granting it the 'Album of the month' honours.

The band would tour Spain alongside GRAVE DIGGER in January 2002 but projected German gigs for March would be cancelled as both Franck and GRAVE DIGGER guitarist Manni Schmidt was incapacitated with a virus the guitarist had caught whilst on the Iberian continent. Touring into 2003 found BRAINSTORM, making ready a new studio album 'Soul Temptation', as opening act to SAXON in Germany in April and scheduling festival performances at the 'Blind Guardian' event. When it arrived in June the 'Soul Temptation' record, hitting the national German charts at number 73, gave fans a cause for celebration as a limited digipack version added not only an extra track 'Amarillo' but a whole DVD concert performance from the 2002 'Summer Breeze' Festival. Japanes variants, through the Avalon Marquee, hosted three extra songs in 'Don't Wait For Me' and live versions of 'Blind

Suffering' and 'Crash Depth'.

BRAINSTORM entered House Of Music Studios with longtime producer Achim Köhler in early November 2004 to commence recording of a new album 'Liquid Monster'. Keyboard contributions came courtesy of ROUGH SILK's Ferdy Doernberg. Japanese variants, issued in July 2005, added an extra track in 'Breathe' plus DVD footage 'Streets, Stages and Studios' plus three promotional videos. 'Liquid Monster' entered the German charts at number 72.

The group united with EDGUY for a lengthy run of German shows commencing in April 2005, preceded by a promotional video for the track 'All Those Words'. Winter European gigs had SHAAMAN packaged with Brazilian Progressive Metal band SHAAMAN. Gigs would also be announced with SAXON but the group subsequently pulled out of these shows.

The band's appearance at the Gelsenkirchen 'Rock Hard' festival in Germany during June was taped and subsequently the track 'Worlds Are Coming Through' was included on the 'Rock Hard' magazine compilation album 'Rock Hard: Das Festival 2006'. In October Andy B. Franck contributed backing vocals to the SINNER album 'Mask Of Sanity'.

Metal Blade Records Europe reissued the first two BRAINSTORM albums, 'Hungry' and 'Unholy', on March 23rd 2007, both hosting a glut of extra material. 'Hungry' added the 1994 '5th Season' demo tracks whilst 'Unholy' was boosted by the demo 'Heart Of Hate' from 1993 and the 'Promo 96' demo songs.

The group featured on the 'Summer Breeze' festival billing in August 2009 held in Dinkelsbühl.