Don Broco “Nightmare Tripping”
Don Broco are an English alt-rock, dance, metal, disco… Look, they infuse anything musical that sounds good and following up on last album Amazing Things, which went to number 1 in the UK, is going to be a challenge. Do they do it on new album Nightmare Tripping? Let’s see.
Opening with Cellophane is like when you drink a fizzy beverage too fast and the bubbles pop out of your nose. It’s bouncy, catchy and the guitars roll and tumble in ways that make your body move.
Following that with Disappear which brings the dance beat, huge chorus and scatting vocals, the music is manic and infectious. Having two vocalists in the band in Rob Damiani and Matt Donnelly allows the music to stretch itself like a rubber band before snapping back. All this in contrast to lyrics which seem to be about not being treated well by a partner.
The slow groove of Somersaults, remembering a time of summer and happiness, is beautifully played with angelic vocals to a pirouetting riff.
This all leads to the title track and the appearance of Nickleback. Opening with nightmarish Alice Cooper vibes, the song explores the world of sleep paralysis, intrusive thoughts and the music matches as it switches between hard rock and a cherry chorus. Let’s be honest, hearing Chad Kroeger’s croon is always a win.
Talking of guests, Sam Carter of fellow Brits, Architects, brings himself to True Believers, a song that seems to start about an angry lad about town before exploring his descent into how hatred, racism and violence permeates the world easily. Musically those boys do it again, mixing drum and bass with all out metalcore and a dash of gospel. To say I’m all on this track is an understatement. Chills.
It’s those mixtures of sounds that make each listen of this album a brand-new adventure, as each time something else pops up.
Euphoria, the vocals are silky smooth over metal riffs and a disco beat, Swimming Pools drops French lyrics into a song with driving pummelling guitars that rumbles your head for minutes after.
Hype Man meanwhile is the metal version of Stayin’ Alive – go with me – it’s a song you can walk down the street in summer singing and dancing too. It struts; it has style and the riffs swagger like Jagger.
There are a couple of ballads, Ghost In The Night and the vulnerable The Corner as Damiani sings about trying to move on in life after a heartbreak, looking for a friend for help.
This album has some notable friends for help, however, to be honest, they are not needed. There is so much quality, so much diversity, within the tracks that with every listen sounds different from the last. It’s vibrant, infectious and compulsive listening. The UK should not be the only place this album lands at number 1.
Album Review By Iain McCallum
NIGHTMARE TRIPPING – DUE OUT MARCH 27
https://donbroco.ffm.to/nightmaretripping
