Don Broco go darker and heavier on Nightmare Tripping, tightening their sound without losing the hooks. Guests include Sam Carter, Chad Kroeger, and Ryan Peake.
Don Broco have spent the better part of two decades refusing to sit still, and Nightmare Tripping pushes that instinct further than ever. The UK quartet return with their Fearless Records debut, delivering a heavier, more volatile record that leans into tension without losing the sharp hooks that built their following in the first place.
Formed in 2008, the band—Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney, Matt Donnelly, and Tom Doyle—have built a reputation on unpredictability, pulling from metal, post-hardcore, funk, and electronic without settling into any one lane. That restless approach remains intact here, but Nightmare Tripping feels more focused in its intensity, channeling that genre-hopping into something darker and more deliberate.
Reuniting with longtime collaborator Dan Lancaster, the band avoid retracing the success of 2021’s Amazing Things. Instead, they tighten the screws. One of the biggest shifts comes from Damiani, who brings his live intensity into the studio, weaving harsher vocals into the band’s framework. Tracks like “Cellophane” and “Disappear” stretch his range from falsetto to full-throttle abrasion, using his voice as both melody and weapon.
Lyrically, the album reflects a world that feels increasingly unsettled. Damiani trades the optimism of the last record for something more conflicted, pulling from personal struggles and global unrest. There is weight here, but it is not without resolve. “Pacify Me” cuts through as a call to speak up, offering a sense of purpose amid the noise.
The guest list adds another layer without overshadowing the band’s identity. Sam Carter of Architects fits naturally into the aggression of “True Believers,” while Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake bring a polished contrast to the title track, which balances a wide-open chorus with a breakdown built for live chaos.
What holds it together is the band’s dynamic. Four strong voices, each with a say in the outcome, shaping songs that feel argued over, refined, and earned. That push and pull has always been central to Don Broco, and it is what gives Nightmare Tripping its edge.