Album Reviews

- by Christophe Vanheygen

Once every blue moon, a band appears that is so hard to define that you can actually call them “unique”. As far as your humble reviewer is concerned, Brutus is one of those bands.

Sure, sure … They may remind you of White Lung and even Thrice here and there, but the Belgian three-piece’s brand of ‘post-hardcore’ explores different territories on their second album.

Honestly, I was a little afraid they wouldn’t be able to top their crushing debut ‘Burst’. Yet, here we are. Or rather: there we go, being blown away by shoegaze-y guitars, thundering bass lines, crafty drumming and the desperate croons, swoons and screams from singer/drummer Stefanie. It’s an eerie blend of music genres and sounds that somehow never turns chaotic.

Call it an adventure that is both beautiful and painful. An intense trip you never want to return home from, despite yearning for the comfort of familiarity. Sheesh, look at me getting all poetic. Let’s get to the point, shall we?

Brutus has already received critical acclaim from big music magazines, websites and world famous “drummers” (yeah, this dude). I don’t see how ‘Nest’ could do anything but solidify their status.

Track listing:

1. Fire
2. Django
3. Cemetery
4. Techno
5. Carry
6. War
7. Blind
8. Distance
9. Space
10. Horde V
11. Sugar Dragon