Release Date: February 28th 2025. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Bronco - Track Listing:
1.Scourge Descent
2.Ride Eternal
3.Light of God
4.Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
5.Legion
6.Fades All
7.Damnation
8.T.O.N.S.
Members
Bronco - Bass/Vocals
JP - Drums
Vic - Guitars
Review
Bronco is a Sludge/Stoner Metalloers formed from the ashes of the highly regarded band TOKE after guitarist Tim Bryan suffered a tragic motorcycle accident in 2021. Out of respect for his bandmate, vocalist and bass player Bronco along with drummer JP decided to continue with a newly formed trio. Joined by guitarist Vic, they picked Bronco's artist's alias for their name.
I was a huge fan of TOKE and I was deeply saddened by Tim Bryan’s passing and when I heard the news about Bronco then I became very excited to see what the guys had in store for us. I’m pleased to say Bronco have delivered a lean, mean and pissed off record that honours the creative groundwork laid down by TOKE whilst taking influence by the likes of WEEDEATER, BONGZILLA, EYEHATEGOD, SLEEP and ELECTRIC WIZARD. Though, with Bronco playing a moody Southern Metal influence which taps into the darker side of WEEDIAN life.
The record is powered by nihilistic LOW & SLOW sound which comes through the opening seconds of the sublime opening track Scourge Descent. The sound is ugly and downright nasty at times with the FUZZ element feeling like it’s going through withdrawal symptoms via experimentation with a nasty drug or banned substance which Bronco use to their advantage by creating filthy sludgy grooves.
The vocals from Bronco are bang on point with his delivery being harsh, violent and full of pissed off imagery with the superb lyrics written for the whole album. Bronco never shy away from shining a light on the seedier and uglier side of the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene with the album having quite an unpolished sound which allows the band to have a more “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude on how they deliver their music.
Bronco excel the most playing long drawn out instrumental grooves which brings many areas of distorted Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal into the mix on other tracks such as Ride Eternal, Light Of God, Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia, Legion and T.O.N.S. There are moments where Bronco switch things up a bit and leave the “LOW & SLOW” life behind to play a faster and more riff-centric style of music which adds a sense of fun to their music which is perhaps influenced by the likes of Church Of Misey and BONGZILLA.
Bronco also brings a sense of “storytelling” which only adds to their sense of realism and downbeat themes used throughout the album. However, despite the dark subject matter being portrayed, the record is brilliantly fun at times with Bronco bringing multiple and different styles of grooves, riffs and spliffs to the party.
Bronco’s debut album is a massive sounding record which should serve the band well by claiming a fearsome reputation within the underground scene. This is a record I can’t recommend highly enough. If you’re a fan of WEEDIAN METAL that’s not afraid to get down and dirty with brutal sounds from start to finish then BRONCO have all bases covered on that score.
My advice is to get fully on board with what BRONCO has to say as you’ll be rewarded with what will become one of the great and true definitive Sludge/Stoner Metal albums of 2025.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.
Bronco will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records from Friday 28th February 2025.
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