From The Dark Past, the TrueMetal column by Mickey E.Vil (Radio Onda D’Urto FM, The Mugshots) in collaboration with Henry der Wanderer (Nott, Nebrus). To rediscover obscure gems unfairly buried in the past. Bands that, in the Nineties, had all the credentials to achieve success but for some reason they didn’t succeed. Follow us, today we will light up the darkness by bringing back to light… Brutality!
Brutality hails from Tampa, Florida. And they were born in 1986. How come, you may say, they didn’t come to share the fame and success of contemporary US bands like Death, Morbid Angel, Nocturnus, Deicide, Massacre and Obituary, just to mention a few? Were those two-three years of “delay” in releasing their debut album (1993) really so crucial, in that period, to clip the wings of a band with such an amount of talent and originality? Who knows, the only sure thing is that Brutality released three albums of great value in the space of four years before abandoning the scene, for the first time, in 1997. The fourth chapter – still noteworthy – will arrive only in 2016 following the reunion, four years earlier. Four years later, the announcement of a new split-up. The latest effort, entitled Sempiternity, dates back to 2022 and is a collection of live shows, old re-recorded songs and two unreleased songs that let us hope in that semi-closed door the band could – sooner or later – decide to reopen, giving more than one joy to old and new fans. Let’s hear what Scott Reigel, lead singer of Brutality, has to say about it! Actually a guy of few words but still very honored to have spoken with him!
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Let’s start from the present days. Last year you released Sempiternity, which could have been your swansong but you decided not to promote it that way. How would you describe it to old and new fans of Brutality and what is its role in your discography?
We were working on a new album and then Covid became a thing. It made it so we were not able to work together how we like to write. At one point we decided just to stop and not do anything at all. Then we were approached about doing a last album with anything we haven’t released. We then started working on getting some recordings finalized and finished 2 new songs that we had pretty much down how we wanted them. For our old and new fans it gives them a taste of what was and what we are still capable of writing.
What happened back in 2020, when Emanzipation Productions got in touch with you after you announced you would have split up?
Like I said before they contacted us and wanted to put out one more album. So we put together what we could for our fans!
Now let’s get back to the past. How do you remember the Florida death metal scene in the late 80’s / early 90’s?
It was the glory days of metal here in Tampa. Lots of cool shows and parties with all the great FLORIDA metal bands.
Can you describe the daily life of Brutality in the period going from the Brutality 1992 demo and the debut album on Nuclear Blast Records?
Lots of practice in Jeffs garage.
Screams Of Anguish, When The Sky Turns Black, In Mourning. Can you share some thoughts about each release and some good or bad memories about the production of those albums?
Screams to me very raw, we recorded it in 4 days lots of power and aggression. When they sky turns Black was a darker album we had just got Brian Hipp (RIP) so recording with him was a bit different than with Jay. In Mourning was more polished, we had more money to work with but I think we let other new members do things that we typically didn’t do in the studio. Among all I like all the albums from that period of the band.
Back then you toured with the likes of Hypocrisy and Bolt Thrower. What do you remember about those gigs and did you find any differences between the American and the European audiences?
Touring with both of those band was great all though the advertising for them wasn’t so good. As for American and European audiences they are typically the same.
What happened in 1997, when you decided to split up? Why do such a talented and original band like Brutality not break through in commercial terms in your opinion?
We were tired and had done some more line up changes that we were not totally happy with. At first we were only going to take a break. As far as commercial terms we really never got the credit that we should have gotten back then.
We were overlooked because we didn’t release our first album till ’93 even though we’d been in the scene since ’86.
Why did you decide to reform with the debut album’s original line-up back in 2012 and how would you describe your comeback album, Sea Of Ignorance from 2016?
We all had been talking through the years and just thought it would be fun to get together again and see what we came up with. We wrote Ruins of Humans the decided to write Sea of Ignorance.
How important was for you the presence of Brutality at the legendary Maryland Deathfest in 2019?
It was probably then best lineup and best show we had ever played. Our fans finally got to see what Brutality is live and in your face.
What shall we now expect from the future of Brutality?
We don’t know. As of now we all our own personal lives we are dealing with. Getting older and have other things we want to do before we leave this realm.
One final message and greeting to your Italian fans?
Thanks for all your support throughout all these years we couldn’t have and wouldn’t have done what we did without you all. Stay Brutal!!!
Line-Up:
Jeff Acres – Bass, Vocals (1987-1996, 2001-2005, 2012-2020, 2021-present)
Jay Fernandez – Guitars (1991-1993, 2012-2020, 2021-present)
Scott Reigel -Vocals (1992-1996, 2002-2005, 2012-2020, 2021-present)
Brutality Version 1 – Demo, 1988
Brutality Version 2 – Demo, 1988
Dimension Demented – Demo, 1990
Metamorphosis – Demo, 1991
Sadistic – Single, 1992
Hell on Earth – EP, 1992 Screams of Anguish – Full-length, 1993 When the Sky Turns – Black Full-length, 1994 In Mourning – Full-length, 1996
Live 06/11/1990 – Live album, 2002
Metamorphosis / Dimension Demented – Compilation, 2002
Demo 2003 – Demo, 2003
The Demos – Boxed set, 2011
Abomination & Now Mosh 2013 – Re-recordings, Demo 2013
Return of the Dead & World War III 2013/2014 – Re-recordings, Demo 2013
The Original Brutality Archives Volume One – 1986 to 1988 – Compilation, 2013
Ruins of Humans – EP, 2013
Cryptorium: These Walls Shall Be Your Grave – Compilation, 2014
Orchestrated Devastation – The Best Of – Compilation, 2014 Sea of Ignorance – Full-length, 2016
Antecedent Offerings – EP, 2018
The Complete Demo Recordings – 1987 – 1991 Compilation, 2021
Exhuming the Noise – The Demos 1987-1991 – Boxed set, 2022
Sempiternity, Compilation – 2022
