Broncos Release Visceral New Single ‘Gloom’ & Announce Album (Irish Post-hardcore/alt rock)
Emerging from Belfast’s thriving alternative music scene, Broncos have spent the last two years traversing the country and, in the process, releasing a slew of successful singles, including debut ‘Erode’ and follow up ‘Lights Out’, to establish themselves as one of Ireland’s most compelling voices. Now as the band get ready for their flag in the moon moment, their debut album ‘King Laugh’, they release new single, and fan live favourite, ‘Gloom’. The band’s reputation as a must-see live act was cemented following a much talked about set in a packed Ulster Sports Club as part of Output 2025 and headline slot at Sweet Sweet Noise. Having built a reputation for their intense live performances and uncompromising sound, Broncos fuse the raw aggression of post-hardcore with atmospheric textures and deeply personal lyricism. ‘Gloom’ follows the release of singles ‘Hold Me’ and ‘Lover’, which made industry taste makers take notice such as RTE2XM and BBC Introducing, who both premiered tracks, and Hot Press, Chordblossom, Genuine Irish, First Contact Music, Pure M Zine, Ragged Cast, Admire Collide, IMRO, Rock N Load, UberRock and Daily Earworm. Fiercely DIY, the band recorded and mixed the track themselves, turning their practice space into their own studio. The track is the perfect introduction to Broncos: crushing riffs, soaring melodies and thunderous drums alongside emotionally charged songwriting, which have all become hallmarks of the Broncos sound.
Formed as various other projects dissolved or never properly formed for Michael Smyth (drums) and Cameron Leggat (guitar/backing vocals), it wasn’t until Shane McMullan(vocals/bass) joined that Broncos finally took it’s shape. Drawing inspiration from their influences as opposed to leaning on genre tropes meant Broncos provided a contemporary and fresh take on post-hardcore. Recalling the reckless intensity of At The Drive-In, the anthemic sound of Alexisonfire and propensity for neck-snapping riffs of Deftones. It’s the band’s crushing alchemy we hear on new album ‘King Laugh’ and new single ‘Gloom’
Broncos – ‘Gloom’ (Spotify link)
A second Cameron penned track and one again salvaged from the wreckage of a previous project, ‘Gloom’ has already become a live favourite for fans. Swelling dreamy synths wash away as guitars reveal the track. The band are unhurried here, building tension by adding subtle progressions to the verse, bass and vocals join adding further melody while drums slowly add kick and snare before the band join in unison hammering collectively as Shane intones ‘We’re always doomed’. A crushing riff punctuated by suspended stops forms the chorus, heavy but melodic, there’s an oceanic weight to it. The track continues to evolve in the second verse, building upon the progressions established in the first, makes things feel a new. There’s an ecstasy in the euphoric release as we hit the middle of the track, Cameron’s guitar riff spirals higher and higher, Shane’s bass adds melody and tension pulling back like a bow before release, drums add intent to the part, intricate ride and hi-hat patterns make space before kick and snare pull tight the bow before the chorus returns. Lyrically the track is about knowing from the outset that a relationship is doomed, but entering into it regardless.
‘King Laugh’ distils two years of live shows, long sweaty tinnitus inducing practices, hours and miles in the van, half-sleepless nights in hostels and most importantly camaraderie. It’s the sound of a band confident in their ability, a clarity of vision but also finding their identity and sound. The album offers an expanded sonic palette, utilising synths and studio production to produce a lush, polished version of Broncos while still retaining the visceral punk-rock energy of Broncos live shows. ‘King Laugh’ might deal with the death of things but here it feels like a beginning.
Broncos – ‘Gloom’ (Spotify link)
