Brutus - Unison Life

Cover Story / Interview – NEW NOISE

20 best songs right now – The Fader

Genre-jumping Belgian trio Brutus has announced a new album Unison Life for October 21st via Sargent House. The follow-up to their breakout Nest, Unison Life is a concept of longing for a life of total peace. The album confronts the obstacles that stand in the way of a Unison Life and the acts of bravery that help to surpass the trials.

Unison Life is Brutus at their most intentional. They were more deliberate about their sound than ever, having had the time and space to really consider their direction due to the global pause on touring. “I wanted every song to feel like the last song we’ll ever write,” singer Stefanie Mannaerts explains. “It killed me inside because it’s almost an impossibly high standard, but that was my personal goal for this album. It was a two-year quest of trying to do better.” The result is a blistering illustration of a boundary-pushing band at the top of their game.

Since their formation in 2014, Brutus has made a name for themselves with their restless, emotionally raw rock that traverses the landscape of metal, punk, post-hardcore, and beyond – often in the same song. The three members first met in their hometown of Leuven, where they cut their teeth playing in different local bands. Their influences are wide and varied. Drummer/vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts – who grew up above a music shop run by her family – is into a variety of genres from post-metal to electronic music. Bassist Peter Mulders is more of a punk guy, while guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden is into country and more melodic rock. Their diverse tastes come together through Brutus to create a sound that’s as heavy as it is unexpected, full of beauty and surprises.