By Greg Pratt

It would be so easy to dismiss California’s BRUTE FORCZ’s debut EP, Kick Ass Heavy Metal. I mean, the name of it alone sets it up for ridicule, and that says a lot, as we love our kick ass heavy metal ‘round here. Then there’s the fact that the band is led by two dudes who are ex-pro wrestlers, actors, and, amazingly, twins, who go by the monikers of Jammer and Slammer… yup, bound to fail.

But we just can’t. Even though the songs on the Bob Kulick-produced EP are a bit blocky and rough around the edges, this thing contains such pure, unashamed love for old school ‘80s metal that it would be impossible to slag it. I mean, it’s stoopid, yes, but for the time being, so am I. Play it loud, mutha.

“We’re definitely influenced by ‘80s metal,” says vocalist/bassist Jammer. “We love MOTÖRHEAD, WASP, early MÖTLEY CRÜE, JUDAS PRIEST, AC/DC… those are the bands that we listened to the most. We like those styles and the sounds that still come from the ‘80s metal bands. That style is just as popular today, so you know it must have something going for it. And if we can fit somewhere in that genre, then we’re honoured.”?

Jammer says he’s not at all worried about the band’s non-music aspects overshadowing the music, which is a very real concern (let’s face it, with the exception of our own Martin Popoff, no one talks about FOZZY’s riffs before they say the words “pro” and “wrestler”). He sums it up easily and breezily: “if the music is good, the music is good.”
“There aren’t many musicians that can do all that we do, if any,” he says. “The other aspects can only draw attention to our band, and in the end that’s what we want. We’ve always been heavy metal in our lifestyle, our music, our wrestling, and even most of our acting roles, and will continue to be so.”?

When asked what he hopes the band can bring to metal today, Jammer again exudes the kind of pure love for the genre that makes the band so against-all-odds likeable (and we’re not just saying that so he doesn’t kick our ass) (if we were worried about him kicking our ass, which he could probably do to every single bravewords.com scribe at the same time, we wouldn’t say his band name is really, really bad) (which, granted, we didn’t say to his face, so, yeah, we’re scared of him). He says he wants to bring back to metal what it’s been missing for the last few years. And that is…

“Hard, driving songs, good riffs, solid leads, and having a great time,” he says. “Our songs are straight to the point, and we write mostly about sex, kicking ass and having a good time. We think that style has been missing for a while. Thank God that a lot of the ‘80’s metal bands are still kicking and touring; hopefully we can join them. We want to keep this style of music alive and well.”

And the boys are willing to put the work into the band that is required to take things to the levels of their heroes. Indeed, despite the band members’ other projects, Brute Forcz is priority number one.

?“We’re devoting all of our time to the band, and are looking to tour both here in the US and in Europe,” says Jammer. “There’s some thought as to putting out a full CD, but we will make that decision towards the end of the year. We want Brute Forcz to be as recognized as much as possible, and are willing to do whatever we need to to get to that point.”

Brute Forcz' Kick Ass Heavy Metal is available at Loud Trax.

(Photo credit above: Glen LaFerman)