Maribor-based alternative rock band Last Brutus is unveiling its debut single “Prison”, officially stepping onto the music scene in its most defined and creatively tight form yet.
Last Brutus is an alternative rock band whose roots stretch back almost two decades. The current lineup, together since 2022, is the most stable and focused they’ve ever had. The core of the band is:Žan Purg – vocalsBrane Ornik – guitarJanko Hren – bassMarko Knehtl – drumsThe band’s story began back in their teenage days of musical searching, when two brothers (the bassist and the drummer) met guitarist Brane Ornik through a music forum. The very first jam sessions revealed a strong chemistry, and despite plenty of lineup changes, it has stayed at the heart of everything they create.After years of hunting for the right vocalist, the band found in Žan a voice that completely rounds out their sonic identity.
Sound and identityLast Brutus mix influences from punk, ska, metal and modern alternative rock. Their sound is built on strong melodies and memorable songwriting, taken up a notch by an energetic live delivery.The result is a distinctive contrast between punch and emotional depth.The band’s motto “Born from noise, shaped by melody” isn’t a slogan, it’s a description of how they create: music that comes out of spontaneity, energy and togetherness.
Prison – the first singleFor Last Brutus, 2026 is a turning point with the release of the single “Prison”, which opens a new chapter in their story.The song is about inner prisons – the limits, fears and thought patterns a person builds inside their own head. The lyrics were written during the pandemic, when feeling trapped became a universal experience, but the song reaches beyond that context too.“Prison” isn’t about a physical prison, but about psychological confinement, the battle inside your own thoughts and the longing to break free of your inner limits.The song doesn’t offer a classic resolution, but a raw, honest ending that reflects the reality of many inner struggles.
The music video for “Prison” was made under the wing of Mediamind d.o.o.. It was directed and produced by the band’s drummer Marko Knehtl, who took on the director’s chair for this project too.As a band member, he had a unique insight into the story behind the song, which made for an intimate and authentic visual interpretation. The production was a special challenge for him as a creator, since he was making it, so to speak, “from the inside” for his own band.
Credits
Music: Last Brutus
Lyrics: Marko Knehtl, Žan Purg
Arrangement: Brane Ornik, Janko Hren, Marko Knehtl, Žan Purg
Production, mixing and mastering: Matic Mlakar (The Kraken Productions)
Message from the band“There’s a lot of music out there, and a lot of bands too. We’re not interested in comparisons or competition, we’re interested in creating. When we shut ourselves in a room and let the music do the talking, that’s when Last Brutus happens.”
