New Brutalism - Requiescat Record LP
Formed in 1998 and named after a defunct and derided architectural movement, New Brutalism’s sound is as raw and immediate as béton brut. Stripped down to its bare bones, their minimalist rock still has urgency—and beneath the punkish energy resides sophistication and a clear creative vision.
And there’s physical proof of their dedication. Shane Elliott (vocals), Matt Hall (guitar, vocals), David Basford (bass, vocals), and Carey Balch (drums) perform on self-built aluminium instruments. They say: "A thin… yet indestructible platform was desired. We wanted the band to be a total design with tools fit for our specific purposes."
"Requiescat", Latin for "he rests" but more commonly known as the R in RIP (requiescat in pace), became retroactively a dedication to celebrated musician and audio engineer Steve Albini, who passed away in 2024. Albini was a longtime creative partner of New Brutalism and recorded Requiescat Record in 2021.
Computer Students Records