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Brutus (Belgian band)

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Brutus
Brutus performing at Rock am Ring in 2023
Brutus performing at Rock am Ring in 2023
Background information
OriginLeuven, Belgium
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsHassle Records, Sargent House
MembersStefanie Mannaerts
Peter Mulders
Stijn Vanhoegaerden
Websitewww.wearebrutus.com

Brutus is a Belgian rock band from Leuven, formed in 2013. The trio consists of vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts, guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders.

Originating from multiple local bands, Brutus performed often in Belgium before internationally releasing their debut album Burst in 2017 and signing with the record label Sargent House. The band followed it up with Nest in 2019 and Unison Life in 2022.

History

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The members of Brutus met each other playing in different bands around Leuven. Drummer and vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts and bassist Peter Mulders played together in Refused Party Program, a Refused tribute band playing The Shape of Punk to Come in full, while guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and Mannaerts were both in the band Starfucker since the late 2000s.[1]

In 2014 and 2015, Brutus played at various festivals, such as Pukkelpop, Rock Herk, and Dour Festival. The band released a trilogy of two-song EPs throughout 2015. In 2016, the band left for Vancouver to record their debut album, enlisting the help of Vancouver-based producer Jesse Gander, who was known for his work with Japandroids and White Lung.[2] At this point, the band was still unsigned.[3]

Brutus' debut album Burst was released on 3 February 2017, on Hassle Records in Europe. Shortly after, the band signed with Sargent House, who distributed the album in the United States and worldwide.[3] The album received positive co-signs from The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato and Thrice drummer Riley Breckenridge, as well as Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who played the single "Drive" on his Apple Music radio show.[4] To promote the album, the band toured with labelmates Chelsea Wolfe and Russian Circles, also supporting Thrice's European tour.[5]

The band recorded with producer Gander again in Vancouver for their second album Nest. Lead single "War" was released on 23 January 2019, and the album came out on 29 March.[6] The title refers to the band's network of close friends and family.[7] Brutus' first United States tour took place in fall 2019, including a stop at Deftones' annual Dia de los Deftones festival in San Diego.[8][9]

In order to make up for the absence of live music during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band released their first live album, Live in Ghent, on 23 October 2020, a recording of a sold-out May 2019 show in their hometown.[10] Brutus was supposed to play the 2020 Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands, but it was cancelled.[11]

On 28 July 2022, Brutus announced the release of their third album Unison Life on 21 October, preceded by four singles: "Dust", "Liar", "Victoria" and "What Have We Done".[12] The band made their delayed Roadburn debut in 2023, also playing the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Download, Copenhell, Pinkpop, 2000 Trees and ArcTanGent festivals in the summer, completing a busy tour schedule.[13][14]

Musical style and influences

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Mannaerts performing at Rock am Ring in 2023

Brutus has been labeled as a post-hardcore,[3][15] post-metal[3][16] and post-rock[17][18] band. AllMusic's John D. Buchanan said that the band combines "elements of post-rock, mathcore, black metal, and prog."[19] Kerrang! wrote that the song "Sugar Dragon" is "an exercise in slowburning shoegaze euphoria."[7] Stereogum described their music as containing "huge Godspeed guitars with even-huger Baroness choruses."[16]

Mannaerts listed her five favorite drummers as Ben Koller of Converge, Levon Helm of The Band, Joris Casier of Stake, Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.[20] She has mentioned being inspired by Karin Dreijer, Stevie Nicks and Emma Ruth Rundle.[21]

Band members

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  • Stefanie Mannaerts – vocals, drums
  • Stijn Vanhoegaerden – guitar
  • Peter Mulders – bass

Discography

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Album

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  • Burst (2017) – No. 30 BE[22]
  • Nest (2019) – No. 4 BE
  • Unison Life (2022) – No. 6 BE, No. 73 GER

EPs

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Live albums

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  • Live in Ghent (2020) – No. 63 BE

Singles

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  • "All Along" (2016)
  • "Drive" (2017)
  • "Horde II" (2017)
  • "Justice de Julia II" (2018)
  • "War" (2019)
  • "Cemetery" (2019)
  • "Django" (2019)
  • "Sand" (2020)
  • "Dust" (2022)
  • "Liar" (2022)
  • "Victoria" (2022)
  • "Love Won't Hide The Ugliness" (2023)

References

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  1. ^ "Meet Lars Ulrich-Endorsed Post-Hardcore Band Brutus". Revolver. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. ^ "How Brutus Went From Refused Tribute Band to Reinventing Punk". Bandcamp Daily. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Terich, Jeff (20 March 2019). "Inner Circle: A conversation with Brutus". Treble. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Meet Lars Ulrich-Endorsed Post-Hardcore Band Brutus". Revolver. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Brutus: "I'm very proud of what we did that night"". upsetmagazine.com. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  6. ^ Milligan, Kaitlin. "BRUTUS Announce New Album 'Nest'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Brutus Break Down The Light And The Darkness Of Nest". Kerrang!. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Brutus at Dia De Los Deftones 2019 + US Tour". sargenthouse.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Deftones Announce Second Annual Dia De Los Deftones Festival, With Gojira, Brutus, More". The Pit. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ Howkins, Jessica (28 July 2020). "Brutus announce live album 'Live In Ghent'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ^ Zorzi, Marika (23 September 2019). "Roadburn 2020: Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Brutus, Torche, Miserable, Cloud Rat the new names". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Hear Brutus' Band-Defining New Song "What Have We Done"". Revolver. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  13. ^ Silva, Filipe (3 November 2022). "Roadburn announces first names for 2023". Lore (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  14. ^ "BRUTUS SHOWS 2023: MORE DATES ADDED". sargenthouse.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  15. ^ ""It's about the journey of searching for happiness": Inside Brutus'…". Kerrang!. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Brutus – "War" Video". Stereogum. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  17. ^ Mills, Matt. "The Shape of Post-Rock to Come: Brutus on the Crushing Beauty of 'Unison Life' – Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  18. ^ Marshall, Will (3 December 2022). "Brutus: Striving For Perfection". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Brutus Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Brutus' Stefanie Mannaerts: My 5 Favorite Drummers". Revolver. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Interview with Brutus' Stefanie Mannaerts // LOCK Magazine". sargenthouse.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Discografie Brutus [BE] – ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Pre-order Brutus/The Guru Guru online". Retrieved 31 May 2020.
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