Review by Kimmarie Erickson for MPM
Pure New York Street Metal OGs Spread Eagle released their fourth studio album, Brutal Divine, on June 12th, 2026, through Frontiers Music. Original vocalist Ray West, original bassist Rob Deluca, drummer Rik Deluca, and guitarist Jommy Puledda prove that some bands from the 80s hair band days don’t go gently into that goodnight. The band formed in 1989 in New York City, was signed to a major label, released two revolutionary albums, then the Seattle Grunge movement wiped out 80’s hair Metal. Sadly, Spread Eagle was a casualty of the uprising of Grunge music and seemingly faded into oblivion. But as my mama always says, you can’t keep a good band down, and in 2019 Spread Eagle released the critically acclaimed album Subway to the Stars. Brutal Divine is the long-awaited, much-anticipated follow-up, and it does not disappoint.
The title track, Flat Earth Vultures, starts with the whole bait-and-switch tactic. The smooth shaker beat and distant guitar line lulled me into thinking I had stumbled upon a sleepy opener. Vocalist Ray West slides in, laying down clean, crisp vocals while Drummer Rik Deluca adds his drum line covertly. Then it hits, like a freight train, that signature guitar hook and Ray West’s aggressive, almost predatory vocal delivery. A simplistic yet complex breakdown into the chorus gave my goosebumps goosebumps. Bassist Rob Deluca becomes the bell of the ball at the bridge with his assertive bass line. Truly a masterfully crafted opening track that demands you partake in the chaos. Track two, Street Noise, gave me the ability to time travel back to the days of the late 1980’s Spread Eagle. This is the sound that catapulted this band into the spot light, just gritty and raw. Gunflower, the third track, opens with a Black Sabbath vibe. This guitar-driven track is snarling and attention-seeking. Guitarist Jommy shows off talent that is far beyond his years being on this earth. The fourth track, Jail Rat, features a tasty breakdown highlighting driving percussion line and a guitar solo that gets ingrained in your gray matter and refuses to leave. Forbidden Local Honey, the fifth track, is the type of song that sweeps the you to a destination, just like a story line in a great novel. Ray West quips, “gotta lick the spoon”, prompting the listener’s brain to wander and wonder.
The second half of the album slaps hard leading with track six, a cover of UFO’s Pushed to the Limit. This track is a flashback moment, pulling out the classic late 1980’s vintage Spread Eagle vibe, raw and nostaligic. The SE fellas definitely did UFO proud with this cover. Ant Farm, track seven, with its crunchy, heavy guitar intro, is reminiscent of AIC’s “You” in my humble opinion. This dynamic track is a fresh standout bag of tricks. The eigth track, Scars in Your Eyes ( City Kids), is lyrical deap. Vocalist West sings with his soul just a tad extra on this track, poignant and sustainable. Inside a Shrunken Head, the ninth track, is a tasty little punk-infused firecracker. I detected a managerie of different genres, including but not limited to the aforementioned punk, thrash, grunge, rock and metal skillfully woven together. The final track, Makebelievers, became my favorite when the lyrics “we’re built in a factory made of hope” hit my ear holes. I was thrown off at first, thinking this track was just another Spread Eagle tune, delivering some good old New York street metal. I can admit when I am wrong, and boy was I wrong. Holy macaral, this track is a nonballad ballad. It has all the touchy-feely nuances of a ballad, but it strikes to viciously at moments to be considered a ballad. This song really emphasizes why this band is still around, creating phenomenal music.
Brutal Devine wowed me, to say the least. Full disclosure, I am a fan of Spread Eagle, have been for years. I like to feel I can be very impartial when it comes to reviewing music of artist’s that I dig. I can honestly say, even if I had never heard of the band Spread Eagle, I would still rave about this album. I grew up in the 1980’s, Hair Metal was my jam, so I consider myself kind of an expert. Let me hold your hands while I say this: LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM! Go to a show; they are touring, tell ’em Skullgurl Metalchick sent you. By the way, I am Skullgurl Metalchick and I approve this album. 🙂
LISTEN TO SPREAD EAGLE:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zHsOl9ubyE9f0sKiCOfet
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/spread-eagle/43487078
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SpreadEagleBand
SPREAD EAGLE SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spreadeaglenyc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spreadeaglenyc
X: https://twitter.com/spreadeaglenyc
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spreadeaglenyc
SPREAD EAGLE OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
https://spreadeagle.us
