ALBUM REVIEW: NIGHTMARE TRIPPING BY DON BROCO
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Release date 27 March 2026
UK alternative mercurial heavy rock band Don Broco returns with their explosive new album ‘Nightmare Tripping’. The album storms forward on electric guitar pulses, razor-sharp vocals, crunchy guitars, hard-hitting drums, chugging bassline and a deep smooth tenor vocal that really delivers on the opening song ‘Cellophane’. It’s an amazing start.
Don Broco formed in 2008 and the quartet: Rob Damiani (lead vocals), Simon Delaney (guitar), Matt Donnelly (drums/vocals), and Tom Doyle (bass/programming) have fused metal, post-hardcore, funk, and electronic elements into something entirely their own as demonstrated on ‘Disappear’ which has a very modern synth rock sound with great sing along lyrics and stadium ready melody. Then, ‘Somersaults’ changes direction with a rock song with R&B at its core as the melodic guitars and vocal harmonies deliver a different sound altogether but the hybrid mix works so well.
Three songs into this album and Don Broco are taking you on a rock journey where all the genres rock has spawned will be played with and reformed. The title track ‘Nightmare Tripping’ is a thunderous example as that guitar solo opens the song and provides the swing and then Nickelback join the party. The song moves from a huge rhythm section driving the beat to fevered screams that merge into a chant-ready melodic chorus. It is followed by the acoustic guitar underpinning the melodic vocals and echoing of ‘Ghost In The Night’, a real rock ballad. And, it is a beauty!
Then, more acoustic guitar with a Spanish flamenco vibe underpins ‘True Believers’ as the hard core screamo vocals cut in as the bassline thumps as we are told “to wake the fuck up”. The middle of the song is a great juxtaposition of a harmonious happy clappy chant “let us rejoice”. It’s funny and shows a band in charge of its musical expression and they know exactly what they are doing. Then, ‘Euphoria’ has that more electronic synth-based sound as “we live forever” as the heavy rhythm section takes control. It is followed by another funk informed song with that syncopated rhythm in ‘Pacify Me’. It is a really good song and an album highlight – in a record of outstanding tracks.
“I hate everyone” and “I think I am dumb” is the “incantation” on ‘Swimming Pools’ and nothing could be further from the truth. ‘Hype Man’ has the most wonderful vocal harmony about the rock circus. It’s a piss take done with big drum beats and a bassline to die for: “No way Jose?” – Yes way! The guitar solo is short but superb and the ending acoustic guitar riff is beautiful. ‘The Corner’ closes out the album with a chiming electric guitar and lovely vocal as a mid-tempo rocker is “the last one” as thoughts about being worthy and “doing better than this”. But I can tell you this song won’t “bring you down”.
And, as stated in ‘Swimming Pools’ this album ‘Nightmare Tripping’ is “supercharged…in the sun” and dynamic with a side of ingenuity. Don Broco have delivered a concise and clever album that demonstrates their rock abilities and skills in 11 tracks. Each song on this album has something to offer rock fans: it is excellent. Don Broco is obviously at the top of their game as those rock sounds “go around their brain”. Rock album of the year? I think so.
