Genre : Post-metal, Post-hardcore, Shoegaze
Released : October 21st, 2022
Label : Hassle Records
FFO : Svalbard, Oathbreaker, Emma Ruth Rundle, Birds In Row, Holy Fawn
Counting among the many bands I discovered through Arctangent festival's absurdly good line-ups, Brutus occupy an interesting spot in underground heavy music given the interesting mix of influences that go into the making of their sound.
The Belgian trio possess the cinematic gravitas and heaviness of post-metal, the pissed-off urgency and rawness of hardcore punk and the melodic sensibility of shoegaze; all these different musical elements that traditionally do not share much in common unite to form a clenched fist of iron, gloved in velvet and following a steady trajectory whose destination and goal is to punch you in the guts.
As their third full-length album, "Unison Life" sees Brutus continue down that road without making any major stylistic changes to the sound they've crafted for themselves; instead perfecting and polishing it, going full throttle on all the things they excel at, those being : creating massive atmospheres, memorable vocal hooks whether those are due to their catchy choice of melody or vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts' emotionally charged raspy voice cracks during the more aggressive sections, along with some foot-stomping rhythms and rumbling bass riffs.
I think I still have a preference for 2019's "Nest" but that is probably due to the personal connection I created with that album back then.
That being said, "Unison Life" is probably Brutus' "biggest" sounding record so far and if you're familiar with their two previous outputs, then you know that's saying a lot.
The trio have doubled down on the scope of things, and as a result, have written an album that feels even more life-affirming and cathartic than ever before.