It must be Shoreditch as you can’t move for beards, work shirts, 50’s themed tattoos and man bags – By Guy Shankland. Stripped back to brick walls, faux dereliction, smoke houses and overflowing with craft beer snobs talking loudly about nothing of any interest to anyone but their own egos. It takes a lot to get me into this vacuous part of (it‘s all about me) London but Brutus’s debut release had me so intrigued that I just to had see them in the flesh. A packed upstairs at The Old Blue Last greets the Belgium trio and they don’t disappoint the aptly mixed crowd. Stefanie is the bands leader and star as she manages to handle lead vocals as well as simultaneously playing/assaulting the drums. Her voice has a clipped almost Nordic twist which rises to the challenges of fast paced Rock and can seamlessly drop back to ballad breaking breathlessness. She is ably flanked by Stijn on guitar and Peter on Bass both of whom gel the band tightly together. They open with ‘March’ which kicks hard, fast and directly at your temple. The drumming is so ferocious you see 20 sticks were there is one, like a constant catherine wheel of stick on skin. ‘Drive’ is an absolute stone cold combative classic and the song of the night (and album). It has a common Rock beat that draws you in before it explodes into a volley of genre defying rollercoaster bullets leaving you bemused but craving more. Lead single ‘All Alone’ literally snaps spines for fun as the evening draws to an all to abrupt end. Brutus avoid the numerous clichés of Euro Metal and bombard you with their own uniquely mesmerising set of modern,Thrash, Black, Speed, Punkish, atmospheric Metal hymns. A must see band.
