Belgian band
Brutus
arrived sounding fully formed on their 2017 debut
Burst
, a visceral maelstrom of post-hardcore riffing and redlined drums with traces of melody hidden in the layers of explosive sound. They were far from a calculated act, however, starting out as a hardcore tribute band developing around the talents of drummer/vocalist
Stefanie Mannaerts
through tireless touring. This development sees a significant boost on second album
Nest
, with more diverse songwriting approaches and a heightened sense of urgency driving the album. Leaning less into technical playing and composition than
, the band goes deeper into exploring emotional intensity on these 11 songs. The album opens with a string of relentless heaviness, beginning with the eerie, swirling post hardcore of "Fire," moving into the frantic rush of "Django" and then "Cemetery," a song that channels the screamy bile of '90s grunge and pairs it with black metal's bleakness. The songs are more straightforward, but they also sound more confident. The triumphant, bass-driven "Techno" teeters on the edge of collapse for most of the song before evaporating into a surprisingly catchy chorus where disarming vocal harmonies daydream about big cities and going out dancing. The band worked again with producer
Jesse Gander
, and together they shape
into a flowing statement.
reach new places on tracks like "War," a dynamic epic that moves from plaintive, restrained passages into rushes of thrash- and black metal-influenced ripping. "Space" also feels new for the band, relying on spare percussion instead of
Mannaerts
' usual full-kit assault but losing no intensity.
sound more focused, more visceral, and more locked in with each other throughout. The songs are heavy and ominous but also tap into a sense of passion and vulnerability. The combination is powerful and sophisticated, and the beast that
is becoming on
feels unstoppable. ~ Fred Thomas