intended to be the Brunswick equivalent of the Storm Hy-Road or the Rocket?

Was it designed to be this or has it turned out to be roughly equivalent to the HR?

Just out of sheer curiosity.

It appears to me the Brute Strength has a stronger cover. But my question is does it hit any harder? Is it any comparable to, say, Radical's Reax Gusto?

Vandal is very similar in shape to the Hyroad, just a little stronger.

not even close, watch the videos on the strength, real rolly off the spot, rolls just like a fusion which happens to be a hybrid cover with low rg/low diff setup, hyroad is super continuous and smooth, lt48 rolls very similar to it

Just looking at the specs ( low rg, low diff ) tells you it will be not much like a Hy Road.  I also think it would be more like the IQ Tour depending on surface prep.  Manufacturers are starting to get the message that there is a market for equipment which matches up better on flatter patterns.  Brunswick in it hay day was noted for making rolly stuff that a lot of power playing league bowlers didn't always like, but made a lot of money for straighter guys on flatter patterns.  Brute Strength looks like a ball out of that mold.