DON BROCO EVOLVES INTO HEAVIER TERRITORY ON "NIGHTMARE TRIPPING"
For 18 years, Don Broco has bounced across several genres, proving that their sound will continue to evolve as they do. Their reputation is built on being unpredictable, not only between albums but within a single song. The UK based band began their journey with pop-rock energy on their first album “Priorities” before evolving to the groovy polish showcased on “Automatic”. They later began to blur genres in their third and fourth albums, “Technology” and “Amazing Things” proving that their sound has never stayed in one place for long. The newest edition to their discography, “Nightmare Tripping” doesn’t only continue that evolution, it pushes it into its darkest and heaviest territory yet.
Serving as their first album since signing with Fearless Records in 2025, “Nightmare Tripping” stands out immediately for its tonal shift compared to past albums. This record leans into heavier production, sharper edges, and is more aggressive vocally. Rob Damiani (lead vocals) showcases harsher screams and scratchy vocals into the tracklist. The chaos that runs through the entire album makes it feel less polished but more raw and immediate in return.
Sonically, this album feels like a mix of everything the band has experimented with over the years. Their signature mix of funk, rock, pop, and electronic is far from unnoticed but is filtered through a darker lens and supported by more metal elements. The 11 tracks bounce between hooks, melodies, riffs, and breakdowns, thriving on the push-and-pull energy that keeps the album unpredictable with each minute that plays. Don Broco has always had a genre-blending identity, using this record to prove that there is no boundary.
Opening with the scratchiest guitar rift you can think of, “Cellophane” serves as the opening track. Presenting itself with confidence, Damiani shifts between a catchy chorus and gritty vocals before growling in the breakdown. The last ten seconds of the song fade into a build up, before cutting off completely as we move to the second track on a cliffhanger.
“Disappear” is closer to what Don Broco listeners may be used to hearing from previous studio releases. With clean vocals starring front and center, up until the last minute and a half of the track. Quickly we transcend into a dark buildup before being hit with a sharp one liner, an element that the band knows all too well.
The features on the record were unexpected but fit seamlessly in their respective tracks. Nickelback shares the stage with Don Broco, integrating their sound and familiar vocals into the title track, “Nightmare Tripping” further adding to the excitement around this release. The song is five and a half minutes, and doesn’t have a single boring second embedded inside. Nothing repeats too often, and there isn’t a phrase that lasts too long. Not to mention the guitar solo that takes the spotlight opening the bridge that’s polished and clean, carrying emotional resonance into the alternating vocals between Damiani and Chad Kroeger (Nickelback).
Sam Carter, known as the lead vocalist for Architects, is featured on the sixth track of the album. The track spends 30 seconds building up to the first verse, where chaos ensues by showing us what to expect for the rest of the song. As Carter comes in for his part in the second verse, his signature growl is immediately present, making the song even heavier. His emotionally charged delivery drops off before the second half of the song, leaving us with a choir of background vocals layered by Damiani’s coarse voice breaking through the static. Of course, it wouldn’t just end there. The breakdown hits hard, incorporating a “blegh!” and solidifying this collaboration as a staple in this era of Don Broco.
The isolated vocals opening “Euphoria” are reminiscent of Bring Me The Horizon in the delivery and inflection. The track sounds like something metalcore fans know all too well, while still offering a sense of renewal within the verses. The bass line on this track noticeably stands out, shining on its own when it isn’t complimenting the other elements of the song.
Quickly we get whiplash from the beginning of “Pacify Me” when we are met with muted instrumentation and a staccato vocal pattern that sounds like the music is holding its breath. The short runs performed by Damiani in the chorus are nothing short of satisfying to listen to. Overall, this song feels cohesive in itself. There are no major turns or surprises, and though it’s not the softest song on the record, it still feels like a breath of fresh air and stability within an album that is otherwise unexpected.
“Swimming Pools” showcases the spoken rhythm verses that Don Broco does so well. This time, each chorus adds more than the one preceding, highlighting the dynamic contrast between the verses and choruses overall. The waveform alone looks intense but you can’t help making a “stank face” for most of the listen.
Serving as one of the more introspective songs on the project, “The Corner” closes the band’s fifth album. It leans into more reflective lyrics, accompanied by a tender sound. The last track feels similar to a breath of fresh air after you step inside from the pouring rain. With an album full of twists, turns, and chaos, track 11 ties together the emotional loose ends left scattered throughout the rest of the record.
Ultimately, “Nightmare Tripping” feels like a mix between reinvention and full-circle for the band. It pulls from every era of their career thus far, while adding something that’s never been done before, proving that they can grow while taking risks unapologetically. It’s their most honest album yet, showing the trajectory of where they want to be as a band. After nearly two decades of music, their willingness to evolve without losing their identity is exactly what keeps Don Broco interesting.
