SPREAD EAGLE 'The Brutal Divine'

SPREAD EAGLE
The Brutal Divine
Frontiers Records

Hailing from New York City, SPREAD EAGLE are releasing their 4th long play, ‘The Brutal Divine’ on Friday June 12, 2026, via Frontiers Records. There was a 7-year draught in SPREAD EAGLE new material, from ‘Subway To The Stars’ (2019), but they did come back firing on all cylinders.

SPREAD EAGLE, for those not familiar where a part of the late 80’s early 90’s hair metal movement, releasing 2 records waaay back then. Both of which are quintessential hard rock records.

‘The Brutal Divine’, like many re-establishing artists, blends a good portion of the band’s signature/original sound while maturing to their current 50 (60) something age brackets. It is this writer’s opinion that ‘The Brutal Divine’ harkens back the same dark broody and powerful songwriting and playing of the band’s 2nd long play, ‘Open To The Public’.
 
‘The Brutal Divine’ fires off with a tasty little hard rock number,” Flat Earth Vultures”, a stellar mix, songwriting, and musicianship encompass the listener, setting the tone for what is to come. “Flat Earth Vultures” could easily have been a b-side on ‘Open To The Public’. The solo by Gianmaria Puledda is a site for sore ears and shows that the band can certainly still rock out with the best of them. The solo and backing break takes me back to the debut and “Scratch Like a Cat”. We then rip right into another rocker, “Street Noise”, an homage to the gritty city of NYC and the streets that the band have cruised their entire lives. “Gunflower” is next and it stays the course of the record thus far with a JUDAS PRIEST like lead riff and a catchy little hook filled chorus that will have any the listener singing along. Another stunning solo is found in “Gunflower”, taking one back to the Self-Titled record. “Jail Rat” continues suit with a punky, yet sleaze rocker of a tune. The breakdown is well crafted and is accompanied by some very nice vocalizing by Ray West. This one has yet another dinger of a guitar solo, well done.

“Forbidden Local Honey” brings in a verse that is accompanied by Rob De Luca’s signature bass riffage and Ray West’s crooning. The solo again is amazing as is the chorus. This one is a hard rocker that again, could easily have slipped onto ‘Open To The Public’. “Pushed To The Limit” punches hard and fast with a tasty hard rocking verse riff that takes you back to the Self-Titled record instantly and then the solo! Oof, hammering and trillingly beautiful. Absolutely stellar and you get 2 of ‘em. Ray’s vocals are a standout here and the chorus is as hook filled as the guitar playing. “Ant Farm” clocks in next and it, like everything thus far is a rocking adventure, “Ant Farm” is quite harmonic in the vocals and in the guitar playing and is a nice mid-tempo rocker. The breakdown is a lot of fun with the nice riffing from Gianmaria that leads right into another epic solo. If you geek out on guitar playing like me ‘The Brutal Divine” will certainly tickle you. Up next is “Scars In Our Eyes (City Kids)’ a downright greasy, sleazy rocker were Ray sings about his and I assume his mates growing up and living on those NYC streets. The chorus is haunting and quite catchy. “City Kids” has all the makings of an arena rock anthem, a chorus that will have even the staunches of listeners tapping a toe and singing along, and the solo is just brutally good. Truly a great song! “Inside a Shrunken Head” is next and it takes on an up-tempo punkish hard rocker that should ignite any mosh pit and have the kids slam dancing like it was 1985 again. Although this one clocks in quickly, we still get a nice solo, with a drum fueled outro and more guitar wizardry from Gianmaria, awesome. Wrapping up this nice little package with a purdy little bow on top is “Makebeliever”. Which is an up-tempo cigarette lighter arena rocker with a chorus to hook you immediately and have you singing along. “Makebeliever” has what a good amount of the record has going for it, a number of songs that could have been written during or shortly thereafter ‘Open To The Public’. The rhythms and solo are tasteful and well played. Ray’s vocals are heartfelt and soulful with plenty of power. “We are building a factory of hope” sings Ray and that sums up ‘The Brutal Divine’ as we are “Makebelievers” and Ray, you and SPREAD EAGLE have given this writer, listener, fanboy a glimmer of hope for sure in what one can look forward to in 2026 and beyond from SPREAD EAGLE and maybe music in general. Well done fellas, well done.

4.0 Out Of 5.0