From Bedford, England, Don Broco is a four-piece rock band. Their sound is heavily rock-based with large influences in drum and bass, nu-metal, and even pop-type elements. With four studio albums out already, they are coming out with their fifth with the release of "Nightmare Tripping." This album comes alongside the release of their single "True Believers," which is a collaboration with Sam Carter of the band Architects, and not long after their powerhouse collab with Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake of Nickelback, "Nightmare Tripping," which is titled after the album.
"Nightmare Tripping" puts you through all the motions of all the feelings with songs that range from upbeat and fun to slower and more emotional. They show not only the duality of music and their talents as a band but also create a great flow to the album along the way. I am a huge fan of their mixing and mastering, as well as the blending of genres to make their sound. Over time and albums, they have really grown and evolved their sound into something very easy to spot by ear as Don Broco.
With beats that are cemented in rock and parts that are heavily electronic music-based, more pop-like, or even into the nu-metal tone, they make their music engaging and full all around. It scratches the ADHD itch to listen to chaos in the form of music without being overwhelming.
While "Nightmare Tripping" and "True Believers" are great favorites off the album and extremely well-done collaborations, I also personally loved "Ghost In The Night" and "Pacify Me" a lot as well! The album is full of hits and, quite honestly, sync-worthy songs! There's no lull in the flow of the album, and each song keeps you fully in it till the end!
Now let's give "True Believers" its time in the sun, real quick! If you loved the collab with Nickelback's Chad Kroeger on "Nightmare Tripping" and haven't heard "True Believers" with Sam Carter of Architects, then you need to go listen right now because it goes just as hard! I love a musical political statement! And they went for the throat with lyrics like "Piss on the flag; ain't no promised land. It was never real; it was just a scam," and "Proud boys and girls looking for an escape, supremacist scum, fucking get in the sea. How the fuck they saluting on daytime TV?"
We also have to talk about the music video, because I can't help it, especially when the video is just as good! The video does not lack in its political commentary, which I adore! Switching from scenes between the members of Don Broco and Sam Carter jamming out in a concrete room and scenes with Don Broco's lead singer, Rob Damiani, in a stark white room undergoing brainwashing tactics before he levitates in a T-pose as the drummer carries on with a choiry-feeling bridge, then being waterboarded by Sam Carter as they both continue singing. I love the filters added to the brainwashing scenes' videos and the editing styles used as well; it gives them a very 90s nu-metal kind of vibe! It's fun, it slaps, and it comes with a cause!
This album is probably in my tops for ones that have come out this year so far, and they have a pretty solid hitter on their hands! I would really love to see some Don Broco songs in movies too, because they have some songs that would be perfect in action-movie scenes. I am excited to see what these guys do in the future and what other heavy-hitting collabs they gift us with!
Meet the Band:
Rob Damiani - lead vocals
Simon Delaney - guitar
Tom Doyle - bass and programming
Matt Donnelly - drums and backing vocals
