Review: Stormbringer – Transcendence
Stormbringer’s fifth studio album offers a powerful opening half, but struggles to maintain that same level throughout
Stormbringer – Transcendence
Format: CD / Digital
Label: Attic Records
Release date: 4 September 2026
Text: Martien Koolen
Stormbringer, founded in 2011, hails from Northampton, and ‘Transcendence’ is their fifth studio album. The music of Stormbringer can be best described as a mix of power metal, classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal, and their new album features ten brand-new tracks.
After a couple of spins, I can say that ‘Transcendence’ does not offer enough variety, as most of the songs tend to sound the same and the compositions are just a bit too predictable. Especially songs like Cut The Vein and Scapegoat really sound like “fillers” to me, but the album kicks off in an excellent way with a song called Energy.
This is a wonderful way to start an album, as Energy is a truly aptly titled rocker. It is heavy and really impressive headbanging stuff. Next up is Busy Doing Nothing – great title, by the way – and this one really grooves in the vein of Soundgarden, while follow-up Other Of 2 is a brilliant hard rock song. Dirt And Bone is a grunge-like song, while All Along features the first acoustic guitars on the album.
So, the first half of ‘Transcendence’ is definitely excellent. However, the second half cannot really enthuse me, and that is a shame, because during the first half of this album Stormbringer are at the top of their game!
Nevertheless, ‘Transcendence’ is a very “decent” hard-rocking album with three super songs, so try it!
Listening tip: Energy – at maximum volume
Tracks:
01. Energy
02. Busy Doing Nothing
03. Other Of 2
04. Dirt And Bone
05. Grow
06. Cut The Vein
07. All Along
08. Whole Again
09. Scapegoat
10. Damn You All
Line-up:
Mike Stockley – Vocals
Ashley Smith – Guitar
Darren Caven-Quantrill – Guitar
Barney Byron – Bass
Jon Paul Quantrill – Drums
Website: https://www.stormbringer.nl/
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