Brute Force - Force Fed

Brute Force is a four piece heavy metal band hailing from Pune. The youthful band has been in existence since 2005 and has already built a steady fan base of metal heads across the country in this short span. They recently released their debut album ‘Force Fed.’ The album is an interesting mix of old and new schools of metal. The band has combined the rash vocal style of thrash and groove Metal, and fused it with the chaotic instrument work synonymous with speed metal.

Right from the first track it becomes quite evident how seriously the band has taken their music, and how much effort has gone into making the music happen. The band has concocted some tremendous riffs on the album aided more than ably by a tight rhythm section. The best example of this can be found on the title track and also to a lesser extent on Rise. The latter is also a good example of the point made earlier about the blend of the old and the new.

The majority of songs bear a very rhythmic vibe to them. For instance, the song Brute Force has a very catchy feel to it right from the intro up to the song’s verses. A similar judgment can be passed about Axis, a number that would surely be popular amongst the head-banging fanatics. The Elite is another thumping track that is executed really well by the band.

 The album brings in it’s own share of variety with the light number, tagged Forgotten Heroes. Lyrically the band has chosen subjects that are of concern in the modern day, including politics and warfare. On Opportunity Denied the band decide to take on the number one problem with politics in India, namely the politicians. On the other hand on the track Axis, the band shifts their focus on the super powers who are misusing their strength for selfish reasons. The words used are brutally blunt, but one would choose them over senseless self-mutilation lyrics any day.

A special mention should be made about the guitar work on the album, which has been top notch, and really comes as a pleasant surprise for someone unfamiliar with the band’s music. The band could definitely be ranked up there with some of the best guitar bands in the country. But the downside to this is that the band does get a bit carried away with the idea and at times it seems a bit excessive, cramping on the larger purpose of the track. Brute Force, is an illustration of this point, where the extended leads results in the song loosing it’s fizz.

Another point of concern that could be detrimental  to the band’s progress would be the vocal department, which needs a certain amount of work. For a band that’s instrumentally brilliant they shouldn’t be letting poor vocals upset the quality of music. Not to say that the vocals were terrible or anything, but at times it just seems to wander of a bit. 

The band jells together really well on most of the tracks, so much so that it’s almost hard to believe that they have been together for only three years. They have provided a more mature and professional product than what their age would suggest, attaining a level of musicianship required to magnify their success and in turn propelling the Indian rock/metal scene onto another level. 

Force Fed is a superb debut album apart from some minor glitches, one which any band would be proud of.