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.
Band: Bronco
Title: Bronco
Release date: February 28, 2025
Label: Magnetic Eye Records
Style: Southern Sludge, Doom Metal
Review impact date: January 27, 2025
Line-up
Bronco – vocals, bass
Vic – guitar
JP – drums
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
Links
www.facebook.com/100086919527605
www.instagram.com/broncodoom
Shop
https://lnk.spkr.media/bronco-bronco
Available formats
“Bronco” is available on digisleeve CD, as a petrol green vinyl LP, and as a marbled black & red vinyl LP.
