Nest

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 Burst, 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 Nest into a flowing statement. Brutus 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. Brutus 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 Brutus is becoming on Nest feels unstoppable. ~ Fred Thomas