Bronco to Release Self-Titled Debut Feb. 28
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 27th, 2024 by JJ KoczanI’ve had a couple seconds to sit with Bronco‘s lead single “Ride Eternal” and their upcoming self-titled debut — out Feb. 28 on Magnetic Eye — and you can hear both the tradition they’re stepping into and the traditional nature in which they’re irreverently stomping all over it. Based in Cape Fear, North Carolina, the band not only press on from the unfortunate dissolution of Toke, who emerged as Southern sludge heroes in the back half of the 2010s, but would seem to inherit the disaffection of bands like Buzzov*en or Sourvein, acts for whom riffy fuckall is a kind of aural oxygen.
There’s time — February is a ways off — to dig in, but the first single is enticing in its aggression and groove, showing familiar patterns newly arranged in screamy sludge. The PR wire brought narrative a-plenty, so by all means, have at it:
BRONCO drop first video single ‘Ride Eternal’ taken from the forthcoming self-titled album “Bronco”
Preorder: http://lnk.spkr.media/bronco-bronco
Sailing from the pirate coves of Cape Fear, North Carolina’s BRONCO unleash their crushing debut single ‘Ride Eternal’, a heavy blend of doom metal and Southern sludge molasses. The premiered track is taken from the newly signed Americans’ forthcoming Magnetic Eye Records debut full-length “Bronco”, which is set for release on February 28, 2024.
BRONCO comment: “The track ‘Ride Eternal’ came from a period of heavy rumination about going from living on tour to forced acceptance of that part of life being over”, vocalist and bass player Bronco writes. “It was inspired by classic baroque organ tales like Bach’s ‘Toccata and Fugue in D minor’ and also wanting to do some heavy drone riffing without falling over bored while playing it.”
Tracklist
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.
South of Wilmington, North Carolina at the estuary of the Cape Fear River, the prominent headland of Cape Fear stubbornly pushes back into the ever attacking waves of the ocean. Its treacherous waters, rugged rocks, massive undercurrents, and pirate coves are a part of the so-called Graveyard of the Atlantic and feared by sailors throughout the ages for the many ships and lives lost.
This is a fitting home for BRONCO. The sound of their self-titled debut full-length “Bronco” is deeply steeped in doom metal and Southern sludge. It is also as obstinate, rough and unpolished, yet also genuine, honest, forward-pushing and unfiltered as the rocky ground it grew from.
The musical confidence and audible experience in both execution and songwriting has not just fallen from the sky. BRONCO rose from the ashes of TOKE after guitarist Tim Bryan suffered a tragic motorcycle accident in 2021. Out of respect for his incapacitated band mate, 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.
Crawling, heavy aggression, molasses riffs, and barbed wire vocals seem to come with the terroir of North Carolina. WEEDEATER, SOUR VEIN and others have been brewing the heaviest sludge there. Sharing stages with standard bearers such as BONGZILLA, ASG, and BLACK TASK quickly fermented BRONCO’s sound into a sonic projection of ash and bone.
“Bronco” bleeds out a mix of grinding horror and beat-down resignation. It’s a soundtrack to grim self-reflection and forced acceptance of life’s letdowns. BRONCO pick up where TOKE left off, and carry forward through successfully experimenting with new elements and approaches. “Bronco” is massive and brutal, and stands out in its defiant, unrelenting individuality.
Guest musician
Chris “Scary” Adams – vocals on ‘Legion’
Recording & mix by Chris “Scary” Adams at Hidden Audio, Savannah, GA (US)
Mastering by Dennis Pleckham at Comatose Studios, Chicago, IL (US)
Cover artwork by Tery Ramdhany
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Line-up
Bronco – vocals, bass
Vic – guitar
JP – drums
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