When a band names its debut album *Delusi Sumus* — “we are deceived” — it is fair to expect music that questions the stories we are told. With “Under the Wandering Stars,” London-based alternative heavy rock quartet Brusic turn that doubt into a widescreen anthem of personal liberation. The second single from their forthcoming debut is not merely a continuation of the campaign that began with “Interrupt the Inevitable”; it is a deliberate expansion of scope, atmosphere and intent.
From Folk Rock to Something Heavier
Brusic — pronounced “Brew-Sik,” shorthand for Brothers in Music — were born from a shared decision to stop compromising. Rob, Eddie and Tim Dullaway had already earned attention with the folk-rock project Van Susans, while vocalist Daniel Rymer Trenholme came from The Lost Cavalry. Together, the four musicians left the acoustic textures behind and built something heavier, darker and more direct. The result is a band that operates entirely on its own terms: no label, no geographic centre, just four members writing and recording across South East England, Exeter and the Netherlands.
That independence has already translated into momentum. Brusic’s releases have landed hundreds of playlist placements worldwide, and the group has drawn praise from Metal Hammer, BBC Introducing, PowerPlay Magazine, Broken 8 Records and Radio Wigwam. Their philosophy is simple: write, record, produce and release music on their own terms.
Review of the Song
“Under the Wandering Stars” arrives as the second chapter in a carefully mapped rollout toward *Delusi Sumus*. Where “Interrupt the Inevitable” channelled forward drive, the new single opens up the canvas. The track is built around the idea of individual freedom — the refusal to let society, class or preconceived identity decide who a person becomes. Rather than framing that refusal as isolation, Brusic present it as an act of empowerment.
The song’s title carries a nomadic, searching quality, and the music honours it. Pounding verses create a sense of restless motion, while the chorus is shaped for communal singing — the kind of hook that grows in scale when delivered live. There is space here, too: atmospheric passages allow the heavier guitars to land with greater force when they return.
Musical Analysis
Brusic describe “Under the Wandering Stars” as the widescreen moment of their current campaign, and the description fits. The arrangement balances hard rock punch with a modern alternative sense of dynamics. The rhythm section locks into propulsive patterns, the guitars shift between textured restraint and thick riffing, and the vocals move from intimate verses to a chorus built for elevation.
What stands out is the contrast between light and weight. The band clearly understands that heaviness is most effective when it is earned. By letting quieter passages breathe, the explosive moments feel earned rather than relentless. It is a lesson learned from the post-grunge and alternative metal playbook, but filtered through Brusic’s own identity.
Why Listeners Should Pay Attention
“Under the Wandering Stars” matters because it arrives as part of a larger statement. With *Delusi Sumus* scheduled for 23 October 2026, Brusic are not releasing singles in isolation; they are building a narrative. The tracklist will span eleven songs, and the album promises to synthesise the direction explored across three earlier EPs into a fully formed debut.
For fans of Alter Bridge, Biffy Clyro, Incubus, Muse and Metallica, Brusic offer a familiar vocabulary delivered with a fresh voice. They combine classic rock instincts, modern alternative heaviness and a songwriting discipline that suggests a band already thinking beyond the single.
Conclusion
“Under the Wandering Stars” is a confident next step from a band that knows exactly where it is headed. Brusic have taken the energy of their first single and stretched it into something more atmospheric, more inclusive and ultimately more powerful. The message — that no one else gets to define you — is matched by a sound that refuses to be boxed in.
With “Quiet Desperation” still to come on 18 September and *Delusi Sumus* landing on 23 October, Brusic are entering the most important phase of their young career. On this evidence, the album deserves the attention it is already beginning to receive.
Recommended for fans of
Alter Bridge, Biffy Clyro, Incubus, Muse, Metallica, modern alternative rock, melodic heavy rock.
Tomi Perrakoski / Metal Madness Weekly ©
