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 most 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. Crawling, heavy aggression, molasses riffs, and barbed wire vocals seem to come with the terroir of North Carolina as demonstrated by such acts as WEEDEATER, SOUR VEIN and others that have been brewing the heaviest sludge there. "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.
