Review by Dom Vigil
Just when you think Don Broco couldn’t get any better, they continue to exceed expectations and break musical barriers. Technology, their third album and follow-up to 2015’s Automatic finds the band redefining their sound once more, and the outcome is easily their darkest release to date.
Within sixteen massive tracks, Don Broco manage to tackle Brexit, xenophobia, heartbreak, social media, the whirlwind of playing massive shows in foreign countries and everything in between. The lyrical content alone will take a few listens to really sink in, but it’s well worth it to fully grasp the amount of emotion the band has poured into this release. Thankfully, it won’t feel like much of a chore, because strong lyrics and powerful vocals are accompanied by some of the band’s best songwriting, as well. For the first few songs, massive guitar riffs reign, but wild bass work, drums that’ll make your head spin and even cowbell quickly take over. There are no two songs that sound the same, yet Technology is a very smooth listen.
Opening the album is the title track, which sets the tone for the fifteen songs that follow. Both “Technology” and the next track, “Stay Ignorant” take on a more aggressive tone than the band’s previous material while still maintaining that high energy, poppy sound that fans fell in love with on Automatic. This is balanced out nicely by arena ready anthems like “T-Shirt Song” or massive tracks like “The Blues” and “Tightrope,” which find vocalist Rob Damiani exploring the high end of his vocal range more than ever before.
Although Technology is a rather dark release, there are a few songs like “Come Out To LA” or “Good Listener” remind fans not to take life too seriously. Ironically, both songs are about heavy subject matter – “Come Out To LA” is about the band’s experiences in a corrupt music industry and “Good Listener” is a commentary on cell phone surveillance – but they manage to spin both songs in a way that’ll have you singing along in no time. Near the middle of the album, “Greatness” kicks off with cowbell and insane bass work, hosting a cocky, catchy as hell chorus – “Give me fucking greatness / Or give me nothing at all” – and sits perfectly alongside the political “Porkies” and emotional “Got To Be You,” which are tied together by some of Damiani’s most powerful vocal work to date.
Technology is great because it accomplishes exactly what Don Broco likely set out to do – it showcases growth and change from the band, but in a way that is still accessible to longtime fans. Many of the songs on Technology would feel out of place on Automatic or even Priorities (see “Blood In The Water,” “Porkies” or “Potty Mouth”) but feel right at home on this release. On top of it all, the band also manages to touch on a wide array of subjects and emotions that can’t be found on their previous releases.
Even though it’s a lengthy listen, Technology never feels stale or boring. Vocally, this is both Damiani and drummer Matt Donnelly’s best performances yet. Simon Delaney’s guitar work really sets the mood throughout each track, from more aggressive cuts like “Everybody” to softer songs like “Got To Be You,” and Tom Doyle’s bass work is jaw dropping, to say the least. Each riff or wild bass line has a purpose, making this album a banger from start to finish.
LISTEN TO: The entire album from start to finish.
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