Belgium’s Brutus are the product of a broad but heavy back catalogue of influences, combining blustering punk, black metal beats and reverb-clad post-rock tones.
I love Johnny Marr’s playing, how much melody he brings to the songs
Guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden is the elastic centre that binds these dynamic elements. His butterfly-in- a-hurricane approach is channeled through a ’74 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop, a 50-watt Marshall Plexi reissue and a few slapback and reverb pedals.
Five guitarists, one player
It’s a simple set-up but one which results in scale and space, as evidenced on their electrifying and appropriately-titled debut Burst.
“I love Johnny Marr’s playing, how much melody he brings to the songs,” says Stijn, prompted on the dichotomy of his influences.
“Every Smiths riff sounds like it should be played by five guitar players, then on the other hand I like Joe Strummer - because all you really need is three chords!”
- For fans of: Refused, Les Savy Fav
- Hear: All Along
“He's playing acoustic guitar, but a lot of it sounds like us. Ed really pushes himself”: Dani Filth on Cradle Of Filth's collaboration with… Ed Sheeran
“There was a minute in the ‘80s where I was just being a lunatic. I got it into my head that I should think more about music and I cut a demo with Toto”: Rob Lowe says that his wild antics led him to believe that he should consider a career in soft rock
