It’s not that difficult to form a band who nourishes traditional hard rock, to proclaim yourself a successor of Black Sabbath and to build a career on someone else’s name. Still, it is tough to remain convincing while doing so. When we add a fact that the band is from Scandinavia, things get more serious. In 2013, Swedish-Norwegian combination called Brutus released a consistent retro record, their best in my opinion. So, let’s go few years back in time.
Brutus’ second album Behind the Mountains continued where their debut stopped. Equally aggressive and heavy as its predecessor, Brutus paid homage to the bands that influenced their sound. Behind the Mountains is a candid tribute to the rock music of the 60s and 70s. Influences are diverse, spreading from Sabbath’s doom, Cream’s rhythm sections, Railroad’s boogie and Zeppelin’s blues rock.
Although the effort does not deliver anything new, especially to the listeners who are fans of the mentioned iconic groups, Brutus does not lack originality. On the contrary, boogie saves the album from the darkness and keeps it fresh. There is darkness and obscurity, but the record does not drown in it. That place is kept for strong, clear vocals (Mystery Machine), two guitars that complement each other (Square Headed Dog) and killing rhythm section (Crystal Parrot).
Solid riffs are abundant, transitions are imaginative, and the production is correct. All of this made Behind the Mountains the best tribute album of 2013. Guitar solo sections are full-blooded, without any redundant experimentation. I would say Square Headed Dog is my favorite song.
Personal Riot was chosen as the lead single and it represented Brutus as a true rock band, free of make-up and saturated with intensity. Reflections could pass as Black Sabbath’s song, and it showed the potential Brutus has. Lead by doom and powerful rhythm, this track stands as Brutus’ heyday.
Behind the Mountains didn’t reach the heights of becoming a classic, but it will forever be suitable for fun times. Side note: in the following years, Brutus proved they are worth our attention. But, more about that in some other review.
