In a year radiant with musical exploits, Brutus stands as a living testament to the magic of tenacity married with undeniable songcraft. The formidable trioโbassist Peter Mulders, drummer Stefanie Mannaerts, and guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerdenโhaven’t necessarily rewritten the playbook on their latest offering, “Unison Life.” Yet it’s their resolute execution and masterful song structures that have ushered them into sold-out venues, such as the storied Ancienne Belgique, and onto an exhaustive roster of international festival stages.
Already slated for Wacken Open Air 2024โone of Europe’s most iconic metal festivalsโthe band’s transnational gravitas is palpable. The charisma and talent they display live are so potent that the hosts of the Willy podcast even went as far as to suggest that playing a prime slot at Pukkelpop has become the new normal for them. Mulders later nuanced this sentiment on the Zware Klap podcast, indicating that such milestones are never taken for granted.
As autumn casts its auburn hue, Brutus slows its relentless pace to reflect and share their latest single, “Love Won’t Hide The Ugliness.” Contrary to what its title might imply, this is not a saccharine ballad. The song serves as an extension of their previous release, “What Have We Done,” and was recorded during the same sessions that spawned “Unison Life.”
“When Vanhoegaerden lets his guitar wail and Mannaerts elevates her voice, Brutus occupies a space both fragile and unyielding.”
Rather than a throwaway track or B-side merely to promote their upcoming shows, “Love Won’t Hide The Ugliness” fits snugly into Brutus’ melancholic ethos. It’s a complex number that sits at the crossroads of vulnerability and resilience, themes eloquently echoed in its lyrics. As the trio anchors themselves deeper into the ground through their performance, they simultaneously lift us skyward in emotional elevation.
The single is available as a 7-inch and can be pre-ordered through their webshop.
Love Won’t Hide the Ugliness lyrics:
Love won’t hide the
Iโm so tired of
Love won’t hide the ugliness
Iโm so tired of looking
I wonโt cry this time
Iโm still standing on the sideline
Love won’t hide the ugliness
Iโm so tired of losing
I wonโt cry this time around
Iโm standing on the sideline
And now Iโm falling from the sky
I am losing my mind
I will go, I will follow you
With my head in the clouds
And now Iโm falling from the sky
I am losing my mind
I will go, I will follow you, just you
With my head in the clouds
Brutus is setting off on an autumnal tour that includes appearances across a bunch of European cities. See the full itinerary below.
๐ง๐ช SEP 02: Crammerock, Stekene
๐ฉ๐ช SEP 08: Junkyard Open Air, Dortmund
๐ณ๐ฑ SEP 09: Baroeg Open Air, Rotterdam
๐ซ๐ท OCT 05: Rex, Toulouse
๐ซ๐ท OCT 06: Atabal, Biarritz
๐ช๐ธ OCT 07: Stage Live, Bilbao
๐ต๐น OCT 09: Hard Club, Porto
๐ต๐น OCT 10: LAV, Lisbon
๐ช๐ธ OCT 12: Copรฉrnico, Madrid
๐ช๐ธ OCT 13: Salamandra, Barcelona
๐ซ๐ท OCT 14: Ex Tenebris Lux, Montpellier
๐ซ๐ท OCT 15: Ninkasi, Lyon
๐ซ๐ท OCT 17: La Co. de Mai, Clermont-Ferrand
๐ซ๐ท OCT 18: Brise Glace, Annecy
๐จ๐ญ OCT 19: Grabenhalle, St Gallen
๐ฎ๐น OCT 21: Colorificio Kroen, Verona
๐ฎ๐น OCT 22: Monk Club, Rome
๐ฎ๐น OCT 23: Legend, Milan
๐ง๐ช NOV 17: C-Mine, Genk (SOLD OUT)
๐ณ๐ฑ NOV 18: Helldorado Festival, Eindhoven
๐ฉ๐ช NOV 19: Groรe Freiheit 36, Hamburg
๐ฉ๐ช NOV 20: Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin
๐ง๐ช NOV 22: Trix, Antwerpen (SOLD OUT)
๐ง๐ช NOV 23: Reflektor, Liรจge
๐ง๐ช NOV 24: Vooruit, Gent (SOLD OUT)
๐ซ๐ท DEC 05: Le Trabendo, Paris
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 07: Islington Assembly Hall, London
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 08: Chalk, Brighton
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 10: Trinity, Bristol
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 11: Academy 3, Manchester
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 12: G2, Glasgow
๐ฌ๐ง DEC 13: The Asylum, Birmingham
๐ง๐ช DEC 15: Eden, Charleroi
๐ง๐ช DEC 16: Het Depot, Leuven (SOLD OUT)
๐ง๐ช DEC 17: De Zwerver, Leffinge (SOLD OUT)
๐ณ๐ฑ DEC 30: Paradiso, Amsterdam
All shows, except for Eden in Charleroi, are sold out.
