Broken Rain is a heavy metal band from Slovakia, which formed in 2006. They started out as a cover band playing classics by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. They added more original material to their repertoire and recorded their Demo in 2009. It was a collection of seven covers and three original songs. In October 2011 they opened for the British legends Uriah Heep in Banská Bystrica. They have also shared the stage with Dalriada (Hungary), Spiritrow (Italy), Stillborn (Italy), Anvil Therapy (Italy), Merge (France), Under A Curse (Italy), Diamond Falcon (Austria), Lord Volture (Netherlands) and many others.
In 2015 their debut album ‘Here Comes The Pain’ was released. It was produced by Ľubomír Lichý (Hematit, Liquid Boogie Roll, Metalinda, Clear, JB) and features twelve original songs, combining classic hard rock and heavy metal.
It has an opening segment in ‘Burn The Witch’ that reminds you of a classic horror movie (in my particular case it seems like a Hammer Horror film) before emerging as a heavy metal folklore tale (think Deep Purple or Dio). “She’s talking with the Devil / You can see it in her eyes / She’s using her black magic / And she’s flying in the sky”. Then it’s onto ‘Seize The Fire’ with its Maidenesque soaring vocals and the epic stoical stomp of ‘Forgotten Heroes’ with its guitar solos.
After the earnestness, they offer up a more personal theme in the ballad, ‘Wanna Love My Girl’ with its lush keyboards coming to the fore. Then it’s back to the eighties for ‘Burning Eyes’ with its harder edged guitar and melodic hard rock presence. “Burning eyes / When you look in the mirror / And feel like you’re gonna cry / Just set the light / As it comes through the window / The chance is zero / But it may happen tonight”.
The tension increases for ‘Here Comes The Pain’ with its staccato rhythms, time changes and vocals being traded back and forth. It is notable for the extended instrumental section that takes up most of the second half of the song. The pace quickens for ‘So Far Away’ with its vision of a quest worthy of Tolkein. “So far away / Try to reach the other side through the dark and pain / There’s no other way / For the sins of the world you’ll have to pay”.
There is a glorious belter in ‘I Want To Play Rock’ before the tinkling keys introduces the melodic AOR tune of ‘Tonight’. Then its full speed ahead for ‘Prisoners In The Wasteland’ with its relentless bass holding up throughout. After a stuttering start, ‘Strong’ bursts into life and races for the finishing line. “There’s night and day / There’s right and wrong / And if you’re scared you really can’t be strong / You see a million colours shining bright / But there is something that is worth the fight”. There is another twist when they throw out the rock n’ roll boogie of ‘Broken Rain’ as a bonus track.
On a final note, there is quality production on this throwback to a less complicated time.
Rating: 7.5 /10
Tracks:
Track list:
01. Burn The Witch
02. Seize The Fire
03. Forgotten Heroes
04. Wanna Love My Girl
05. Burning Eyes
06. Here Comes The Pain
07. So Far Away
08. I Want To Play Rock
09. Tonight
10. Prisoners In The Wasteland
11. Strong
12. Broken Rain (Bonus Track)
Broken Rain:
Martin Rybár – lead vocals
Filip Prašovský – guitars, backing vocals
Imrich Šimig – keyboards, guitars
Vladislav Gális – bass, backing vocals
Branislav Končír – drums
Record label: May 2015
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Video below: ‘Strong’
Soundcloud: “Here Comes The Pain” (Teaser)