In 2017, Jacob Graham said just before the release of goodbye to The Drums, which means that Brutalism is actually a solo album from frontman Jonny Pierce. A great opportunity for him to do things differently. At least, that's what you think when you hear the opener Pretty Cloud, which is powered by synthesizers and a hysterical drum machine. Catchy! But The Drums always were. It seems as if Pierce
… has stored his surfboard here for good, because a song like Let's Go Surfing is no longer heard (although you can hear the sea in the song Loner, a subtle reference). The reverberating guitars have remained, although these are more often supported by synths. Only the ballad Nervous really goes unnoticed. Fortunately, the sharp teeth and edges are often present, which give Brutalism a lot of spice. (JvQ)more