ALBUM REVIEW: Nest – Brutus
Three is a magic number, so they say, and when it comes to Belgian trio BRUTUS, that is very much the case. Flying out of the shadows two years ago with the fantastic Burst, they are now riding a wave of momentum that has been richly deserved in every aspect. It’s about to get even larger too, because sophomore record Nest is out now via Hassle Records and has been hotly anticipated from all corners.
An oft-used mentality for second albums is ‘Do what you did before, but better’, which is a very precarious line to walk. Some bands will relax and not hit the quality, others will overdo it and unravel trying to improve on what they did before. For those that hit the sweet spot, however, the rewards are plentiful and it’s fair to say that BRUTUS haven’t so much done that as fired a second arrow and neatly split the first one in two. This is a bleak canvas of post-metal glory that deserves to be spun repeatedly on multiple occasions, a perfect showcase for a band that have been forced to mature quickly, but taken it all in their stride.
It starts with Fire, building from a quiet, drawn out note through all elements of BRUTUS’ sound before developing into a barren wilderness that is helped greatly by the raw production that continues to make an impact as Nest rumbles on. The contrast between the punk rawness of Django and the harsh tones of Cemetery is one that does much to highlight the band’s impressive range and dexterity across numerous styles, whilst Horde V even dips its toes into more extreme metal territory. They’re not afraid to mix things up mid-song either, with both War and album closer Sugar Dragon starting slowly and restrained before exploding into mosh anthems and a cacophony of guitar and cymbals.
Perhaps the strongest selling point though is the lyrical technique of drummer and vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts, who conveys a smorgasbord of emotions and vibes throughout. The likes of Carry and Distance are two such examples: the former, surprisingly brooding and sprawling for a track that is over in three minutes, is expressed with weight and frailty, tugging on heartstrings and communicating great burden. The latter is filled with spite, a sumptuous release of pent up anger in a quite ethereal manner, Mannaerts’ voice soaring over the atmospheric strains from guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and Peter Mulders. Even when the tempo takes a more upbeat approach, such as the groove of Techno or the bounce of Space, it is controlled in an excellent manner by the gravitas in Mannaerts’ delivery, which ensures that neither sound out of place in the overall context of Nest and maintain the general mood and feel.
It’s always a joy to wax lyrical about a band who are rapidly gaining the world at their feet, but even more so when said band are in no way allowing the wight to sit on their shoulders. BRUTUS have a glittering future ahead of them and it’s perhaps no surprise that Nest is going to help them on that journey immensely. Forget their momentum being a mere wave; it’s now a rocket that will send them into the stratosphere.
Rating: 9/10
Nest is out now via Hassle Records.
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