Brotality

Lore & Background

Brotality began in 2016 with brothers Bryce and Reece Maopolski, who performed guitars and bass, respectively, with both handling vocals. The band did not come to completion until the brothers met Liam Fenton in 2018, who joined on drums. With Fenton, the three released their debut EP, Hypernova, though it was recorded solely by Bryce performing all instruments. The following year, they released 'Painmonger' and their sophomore EP The Provocation in March 2019, which featured the whole band and marked a departure from the djent sound of the first release. In September 2019, they released 'Legions Fall' as a single off their upcoming album.

Reader's Guide

Brotality's significance lies in their rapid rise from a duo to a signed act with Rottweiler Records, and their debut album Worldwide Desolation (2021) received very positive reviews. Their early career included opening for major acts Deep Purple and Judas Priest, and they participated in a tribute show to Steve Rowe of Mortification. The band's lineup changes, including the departure of drummer Liam Fenton in 2021 and the subsequent hiring of John Haring in 2022, reflect the challenges of maintaining a stable roster. Their discography includes multiple EPs and singles, with a shift in sound from djent to a more groove-oriented style. The band's legacy is tied to their consistent output and the critical reception of their debut album.

Did You Know?

• The band's debut EP Hypernova was recorded entirely by Bryce Maopolski, with no participation from Reece Maopolski or Liam Fenton.
• Liam Fenton departed the band in September 2021, with his last show on October 3, 2021.

Roots in Narrowsburg: The Maopolski Brothers' Duo Origins

Brotality traces its origins to Narrowsburg, New York, where brothers Bryce and Reece Maopolski began collaborating in 2016. Bryce handled guitars and shared vocal duties while Reece took on bass and also sang, making the project essentially a two-piece for its first two years. The lineup did not solidify until 2018, when drummer Liam Fenton joined the fold. Even after Fenton's arrival, the debut EP Hypernova remained a one-man endeavor: Bryce tracked guitars, bass, and drums himself, with neither Reece nor Liam contributing to that particular recording. This early period cemented the Maopolski brothers as the creative nucleus of the project, with Bryce shouldering production responsibilities like mixing and mastering that he would continue to handle throughout the band's career. The small-town setting in the Narrowsburg area gave the group a grassroots identity, a scrappy foundation from which they would eventually open for legendary acts and sign with a national label.

Opening for Legends and Landing a Label

Once the trio was complete in 2018, Brotality quickly found themselves sharing bills with heavyweight metal names. In September of that year, the young band opened for both Deep Purple and Judas Priest, a remarkable early credential for a group still in its infancy. The months that followed brought a rapid creative output: the single "Painmonger" arrived in 2019, followed by the sophomore EP The Provocation in March of the same year. That release marked a deliberate sonic pivot away from the djent-influenced textures of Hypernova toward a more direct thrash and groove approach, with Bryce again overseeing mixing and mastering. By March 2020, the band had caught the eye of Rottweiler Records, a label based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and signed a deal that coincided with the release of the single "Salting the Wound." The group also demonstrated their deep respect for the metal community by performing a tribute to Mortification's late Steve Rowe at an Exodo Festival event, covering "Gut Wrench" from the album Primitive Rhythm Machine.

Worldwide Desolation and the Drummer Exodus

Brotality's debut full-length, Worldwide Desolation, landed on February 5, 2021, through Rottweiler Records and was greeted with very positive critical reception. The album was preceded by a burst of promotional material, including the lyric video for "Spiral Out" in June 2020 and the band's first official music video for "Foxhole," which premiered on October 17, 2020, one day after the D45 EP pairing "Foxhole" with "Dirtnap" was released. However, the post-album stretch brought considerable personnel upheaval. On September 28, 2021, the band announced that Liam Fenton was stepping away to focus on his personal life, playing his final show on October 3. The drum chair then cycled through two interim players: Tanner Snyder covered a handful of dates, followed by Tyler Tompkins, who filled in for roughly five months. The uncertainty ended on March 2, 2022, when John Haring was announced as the permanent replacement, giving the band a stable lineup heading into its next era.

A Catalog in Constant Motion: From Hypernova to 2026

Brotality's discography charts a clear artistic evolution. The djent-tinged Hypernova of 2018 gave way to The Provocation in 2019, a full-band effort that leaned harder into thrash and groove territory. After the well-received Worldwide Desolation in 2021, the band kept the momentum going with The Woods Will End You in 2022, supported by singles such as "Frost Empire" and "An Evil Presence." The 2024 EP It Feeds delivered a dense cluster of tracks including "Black Abandon," "Cryptic Worship," and "The Bones of God," while 2025 brought singles like "Blasphemy," "The Body," and "Keepsake." Looking forward, the catalog lists the album Night of the Soul and the EP Eat Your Flesh, Know Your God for 2026, alongside the singles "Animalistic" and "Wormsign." Throughout every phase of this prolific output, Bryce Maopolski has remained the band's primary creative engine, handling guitars, lead vocals, and production duties from the very first recording to the present day.