SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRKN LOVE – THE PROGRAM

BRKN LOVE
THE PROGRAM
SPINEFARM RECORDS

BRKN LOVE has returned with their third full-length album, The Program. The record follows a pair of albums, 2020’s self-titled and 2022’s Black Box, and includes recent singles, “20/20 Vision” and “Pulling Leeches”.

Opening with the lead single, “20/20 Vision”, a track written by BRKN LOVE’s vocalist and guitarist, Justin Benlolo, producer Anton DeLost (Cleopatrick, The Warning, Dead Poet Society), and Queens Of The Stone Age bassist, Michael Shuman. Led by a ripping riff, the song follows the rhythmic strumming of a unique chord progression – Shuman’s influence is quite apparent – before erupting into a massive chorus as the band explodes and Benlolo’s voice pushes his upper register. The following track, “Rear View Mirror”, takes a darker tone, with a haunting verse and an exceptionally fuzzy guitar, before, similarly, escalating to an intensely powerful chorus. The Program features a number of choruses of this nature, demonstrating a strong understanding of songwriting.

SPILL FEATURE: THE PROGRAM – A CONVERSATION WITH BRKN LOVE’S JUSTIN BENLOLO

Through 12 tracks, BRKN LOVE expands their sound with well written and highly produced songs within a modern alternative rock flavour. There is a strong connection, particularly in the harmonic passages and slinky riffs, to Queens Of The Stone Age and Royal Blood, while their momentous approach to writing absolute bangers of a chorus feels nostalgic for Foo Fighters. While The Program is an enjoyable record throughout, the brutally heavy instrumental outro of “Diamonds”, the gritty pop melodies of “Unholy”, the off kilter “Shades Of You”, and the ripping guitars on “Callous” especially stand out. Despite their songwriting, it is in these all to brief moments of heaviness that BRKN LOVE shines brightest.

Song after song, chorus after chorus, The Program delivers anthem after anthem that sees BRKN LOVE double down on their songwriting and performance to make their biggest album yet. Through this, The Program is a highly refined collection of music that sounds carefully crafted for rock radio and playlisting as BRKN LOVE continue to prove their worth as an exciting, up-and-coming alt-rock force.

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