The Pitch: Belgian alternative/post-metal band Brutus with easily the most heartsting-pulling album of 2019. FFO: Mr. Gnome, Björk, Russian Circles
What I Like: There's a little female-fronted rock duo out of Ohio called Mr. Gnome that I used to catch live all the time. They mix minimalist alternative music with the occasional harder metal edge which made for both great shows and great albums. Brutus is like Mr. Gnome meets Björk, with those combined passions swelling to grand emotional peaks. And while the music is an important factor in crafting these gripping soundscapes, much of the task is carried by drummer/singer Stefanie Mannaert. Her wispy vocals seem to gasp for air while drowning in a sea of sorrow. Her performance on the first half of "War," in particular, quite literally brought me to tears. I'm not even following the lyrics; the inflection alone is utterly heartbreaking. It brings the weight of every personal tragedy I've ever experienced crashing down on me all at once in a strangely beautiful catharsis.
Critiques: It's a little uneven and the instrumentation could use a little more differentiation. While I enjoy the compositions, they don't go much further than sounding like any number of other groups in this genre.
The Verdict: Haunting, evocative, and quite potent; Nest is an album that should be experienced by everyone at least once. I'm captivated by the performances and left wondering what life experiences left Stefanie with one of the most authentically mournful voices I've heard in my entire life. Stunning, right up there with Dolores O'Riordan, and again Björk.
Flight's Fav's: Fire, War, Techno
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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