Brotherly Love are one of the youngest bands to emerge from San Antonio in recent years. Formed in early 2025, the Texas hardcore group features vocalist Oscar Bruenderman, guitarists Matt Hernandez and Gunnar Garza, bassist Preston Moths, and drummer John Soliz.
Their sound draws from Gorilla Biscuits, The Mongoloids, Cold World, and Mental, but it is shaped just as much by their own experiences growing up in the San Antonio hardcore scene.
Bruenderman’s introduction to hardcore came early. "My discovery of hardcore came early, when I was probably 13 or 14. I picked up the Misfits' Static Age and Minor Threat's discography record," he tells No Echo. "Those two records were my first real introduction to hardcore, and after that, my friend Aaron and I began delving deeper into hardcore together."
Soon, the local scene became just as important as the records themselves. "Local bands like Hardside, Bitter End, and Sudden Death—and later on Brain Dead and Bloodhound—were all crucial to me understanding what San Antonio Hardcore is like," Bruenderman adds.
That early foundation explains why Brotherly Love’s influences stretch back to bands that predate their own time in the scene. Guitarist Gunnar Garza singles out Gorilla Biscuits and The Mongoloids as groups whose music still resonates.
"Bands like The Mongoloids and GB always stuck out to me because they had something to say, and the way they were doing it was timeless," Garza says. "I can always go back to 'Start Today' and 'Time Trials,' and it'll still hit the same way it did when I first heard those albums. Bands like that don't come along all the time."
Brotherly Love started informally. Bruenderman and Soliz had written songs together, but the idea of forming a band only took shape when they were asked to play a benefit for The Guillotine, a San Antonio venue.
Gate Six, the local label that would ultimately become Brotherly Love's home, put together the show. "To my knowledge, they really liked our sound, and from there we got on more of their shows and eventually got signed," Soliz explains.
Brotherly Love played their first show a year this past weekend (August 15, 2025). From there, they built momentum across Texas, sharing stages with Nullify, Soul Exchange, Shattered Realm, and Broken Focus. The band recorded their debut EP, Brace for Impact, with producer Levi Wayne.
In addition to Logan from Gate Six Records helping spreading the word about the band, Brotherly Love are also quick to acknowledge those working behind the scenes to keep Texas Hardcore thriving. Soliz points to Menace Music, Homegrown Booking, Faith In Remission, Last Laugh Productions, and Stay True Productions as some of the people and organizations putting in the work.
Guitarist Matt Hernandez sums up what Brotherly Love stand for in six words:
"Hardcore for the youth, by the youth."
***
Brotherly Love on social media: Instagram
Tagged: brotherly love
