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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Brotality
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Brotality
The Woods Will End You

Album length: 11 tracks
Style: Thrash Metal
Street Date: June 3, 2022



There’s a phrase people sometimes use when their tastes in music, movies, etc, align more with another generation’s: “I was born in the wrong decade.” One has to wonder if the guys in Brotality feel that way. Though each member was born in the 2000s, their 2021 label debut Worldwide Desolation hearkened back to the thrash metal of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, absolutely nailing their sound and surprising me with an early favorite of the year. And now they’re already set to do it again, throwing their hats in the ring with their sophomore release, The Woods Will End You.

After poring over the lyrics, The Woods Will End You seems to be a concept album, with songs that see an unnamed character traversing the many dangers of a fantasy land to find redemption. “Frost Empire” drops us into the thick of it, seeing the character mysteriously imprisoned: “Caught in a trap / prison of ice in a frozen cell / try to climb, dig my knife in / pull myself up / power draining from within.” Brotality paints the landscape as dark and harrowing, as heard in “Flesheater of the Forest” and “An Evil Presence,” but by the time “Sludgehammer” comes around, you start to see glimmers of the hope of finding God again. And of course, what kind of story would it be if the protagonist didn’t win in the end? “Glow” is a satisfying conclusion, as the character returns home and looks forward to his rest: “Touch of the sun on my face, I complete my mission / ongoing forest of green engulfing my vision / end of the battle and start of a hopeful future / running with joy to the arms of the Great Renewer.”

Despite the conceptual nature, I was a bit surprised to find that, though this definitely feels like a natural progression from their last album, The Woods Will End You is also largely instrumental. Though many of the songs do feature vocals, there are multiple tracks that are strictly guitars, bass, and drums. Even some of the full songs contain lengthy instrumental breaks (“Skull Rot,” “Sludgehammer,” and a personal favorite in “Nosedive”). When we are smacked in the face with big, beefy vocals, it’s super enjoyable, but there’s also something to be said about letting the instrumental sections breathe and highlighting the excellent musicianship. It even manages to keep my interest in the longer tracks near the end (like the eleven-minute “The Moon Below”). Brotality has a keen ability to find themselves in a solid groove, and it’s a lot of fun to hear them play it through. (And on that note, the transition from the really happy-sounding intro into the low-key, grungy bass riff of “Frost Empire” is one of my favorite musical moments in a long time!)

In all honesty, the first time I heard a Brotality song a few years ago, I wrote them off as something out of my wheelhouse. But with back-to-back albums that just smashed it out of the park, they’ve quickly become a band that I now look forward to hearing from. They most certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re definitely a worthy investment for folks who like a little thrash and metalcore. The Woods Will End You shows musical and lyrical maturity beyond the band members’ years, and they’re only going to get better from here.

- Review date: 6/3/22, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: Rottweiler Records
. Album length: 11 tracks
. Street Date: June 3, 2022
. Buy It: Bandcamp

  1. Wild (1:30)
  2. Frost Empire (3:30)
  3. Nosedive (4:35)
  4. Midnight Fire (1:39)
  5. Flesheater of the Forest (5:04)
  6. An Evil Presence (6:19)
  7. Skull Rot (5:31)
  8. Sunseeker (2:22)
  9. Sludgehammer (7:41)
  10. The Moon Below (11:01)
  11. Glow (5:41)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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