Belgian trio BRUTUS derive from Leuven, home of the mammoth Rock Werchter festival, which is renowned for its sheer hugeness, just like the trio themselves.

Brutus have pushed even further with the announcement of their debut album, Burst. The album begins with ‘March’, a track which creates a tense atmosphere with its pounding drums and Dragonforce-esque riffs before exploding into an eruption of chaos. Alongside ‘March’ tracks ‘All Along’ and ‘Caring’ result in an utterly huge start to the album. It creates an anthemic euphoria; it is crammed with energy, accompanied by a punk-inspired raw grittiness.

The chaos subsides slightly through tracks such as ‘Justice De Julia II’, which introduces a heightened sense of gloominess, with a brief sense of Nirvana’s Incesticide creeping from underneath. ‘Drive’ is a particular highlight; it is pure carnage throughout with relentless anguish-driven speed. ‘Drive’ is undoubtedly something that would turn the heads of the likes of Dave Grohl and co.

As the second half of the album begins to take form, the ferocious energy remains, particularly through tracks such as ‘Crack/Waste’ and ‘Horde II’. ‘Looking For Love On Devil’s Mountain’, however, begins in a particularly unique manner – it is slow and eerie, enticing the listener with an eclectic fusion of sounds. 

Technically, Brutus have created a masterpiece. Burst is the perfect fit when it comes to naming the album; it does exactly that, erupts straight away and pushes the boundaries. 

Burst, the new album from Brutus, is out now.

James Cummins
@cummybear