English rock band Don Broco’s third album, Technology, is like a rich piece of chocolate cake.
The chocolate cake is gooey and moist; it’s so good, but you can only handle small bites in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Clocking in at one hour, Technology is packed with intense guitar riffs, great lyricism, and heavy basslines.
Songs such as “Technology” and “T-Shirt Song” suck in the listener in an instant. Though both took some time to grow on me, I couldn’t stop replaying these songs once they clicked with me.
“Stay Ignorant” caught my attention the first time I heard it. Between the heavy bassline that gets my head grooving and the very prominent theme of ‘fake news,’ “Stay Ignorant” is a track I will not forget anytime soon.
On the other hand, tracks “Something to Drink” and “Blood in the Water” are easily forgettable. Maybe it’s because they’re near the end of the record, but they pale in comparison.
“Porkies,” “The Blues,” and “Good Listener” sound as if they belong on a superhero movie soundtrack. Bassist Tom Doyle brings the heat on all three tracks, and combined with guitarist Simon Delaney and drummer Matt Donnelly, what’s not to like?
I have to hand it to Don Broco, I didn’t think they’d be able to work the cowbell. When I think of “Greatness,” the first thing that comes to mind is classic Don Broco. “Greatness” is a funky, futuristic, 80s-esque track that keeps my head grooving.
The fifth single, “Come Out to LA”, immediately stopped me in my tracks. It opens up with an airy feel, some snapping in the background, but escalates into an angry beat drop. This track represents how, on the outside, LA/Hollywood seems like the picture-perfect scene, but when you dig a little deeper, you discover how nasty Hollywood is. Don Broco takes this theme and represents it musically, which I love.
However, my favorite track from Technology is “Got to be You.” A track very reminiscent of “Nerve” from second album Automatic, “Got to be You” sticks like glue in my mind (in a good way, of course.)
Technology is like recieving a delicious piece of cake, filled with a rich chocolate ganache, drizzled in hot fudge, and sprinkled with bark chocolate pieces. Talk about a chocolate overload. The eater must take small bites in order to appreciate the cake properly, without overwhelming themselves.
This is exactly how one must approach Technology. Don Broco condensed so much into so little, and, while I rate Technology a 3.5 / 5, I suggest taking breaks between every few songs. Despite this, I absolutely look forward to seeing this rock band in concert next month, as I can’t wait to rock out.
