Ethereal Metal

Ryan Murray | Co-Owner | Chief Editor | Contributor | Photographer

r.m.music84@gmail.com

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Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t dead—it’s just been waiting for the right band to grab it by the collar and shake it back to life. Enter BRKN LOVE, the Toronto-born, riff-fueled powerhouse led by Justin Benlolo, whose swaggering, arena-sized hooks and gritty grooves explode with more attitude than a bar fight at last call. With The Program, their third full-length album, BRKN LOVE prove they’re not just playing rock music—they’re breathing fire into it, breaking every rule in the book, and making damn sure we all feel it.

From the first moment The Program kicks in, it’s clear this record is built to move—whether it’s your head, your hips, or your emotions. 20/20 Vision sets the stage with a sledgehammer riff, an earworm chorus, and a galloping energy that feels like a runaway train fueled by pure adrenaline. It’s got that perfect mix of reckless abandon and tightly wound precision, a testament to Benlolo’s songwriting chemistry with Queens of the Stone Age’s Michael Shuman. That bassline alone is enough to shake walls, but it’s Justin’s searing delivery that makes the track hit like a gut punch. Nostalgia drips through every note, capturing the way hindsight warps memories—how we romanticize the past even when we know damn well why we left it behind.

Then, without missing a beat, we’re thrown into Rear View Mirror, a track that rides a bluesy, grungy wave of regret. The guitars snarl and grind, the vocals ache with just the right amount of self-inflicted torment, and before you know it, you’re singing along to a chorus that begs to be blasted with the windows down. It’s the kind of song that makes you feel like you’re driving straight into a storm, knowing full well you’re about to get drenched.

If The Program proves anything, it’s that BRKN LOVE have an uncanny ability to strut between the lines of rock’s biggest influences while keeping their sound undeniably fresh. Diamonds slinks in with a hypnotic groove, Benlolo’s vocals dripping like honey over a thick, pulsing beat before erupting into a chorus that’s as sharp as its title suggests. There’s a certain swagger here—a confidence that feels completely effortless, like the band knows they’ve got something special and they’re daring you not to notice.

And then there’s Cruel —a track that slithers and builds, layering tension before exploding into a full-blown heartache anthem. The way Benlolo delivers, “How did you get so cruel?” makes it sound like he’s been sucker-punched by the realization that some people are just born to break hearts. It’s brooding, it’s bitter, and it’s all the better for it.

That raw emotional thread continues into Callous, a stomping, handclap-laced beast that practically dares you not to move. The line “Think I’m headed for a breakdown” feels almost prophetic as the track escalates, balancing BRKN LOVE’s signature fusion of melody and grit. It’s the sound of someone teetering on the edge, fully aware they’re about to fall—but embracing the chaos anyway.

If there’s a turning point on the album, it might be Unholy, which drips with a confessionary weight. The track’s distortion-drenched tension mirrors its lyrical turmoil—love and destruction intertwined in a messy, intoxicating mix. Benlolo doesn’t just sing these lines; he inhabits them, making you feel every ounce of guilt and longing tangled up in his delivery.

The album takes a striking detour with 12 Wings, which has an almost ethereal, slow-burn intro that grows into something massive. There’s a sense of searching here—a moment where BRKN LOVE let the tension simmer before blowing it apart in a soaring, cinematic explosion of sound.

But just when you think you have the album figured out, Pulling Leeches kicks in with its raw, unfiltered energy. It’s loud, it’s brash, and it drags you straight into the muck, proving that BRKN LOVE aren’t just about crafting anthems—they’re about making you feel every jagged edge along the way.

By the time Wisdom Teeth rolls around, you can sense the album tightening its grip. There’s something almost sinister in its slow-burning verses, only for the chorus to rip through like a full-blown sonic exorcism. If this song doesn’t make you want to scream it at the top of your lungs, check your pulse.

And then we arrive at Shades Of You—a track that might just be the album’s emotional nucleus. It’s a spiritual successor to their hit Like A Drug, but this time, the addiction runs deeper. The push and pull of toxic love never sounded so intoxicating, and the way the song builds—from sultry and brooding to full-throttle catharsis—is a masterclass in dynamic songwriting.

That leaves us with Break The Same and Shiver—two final gut punches before BRKN LOVE drop the mic. The former is an all-out call to arms, an anthem for anyone tired of repeating the same mistakes, while the latter serves as the perfect closer. With its haunting melodies and pulsing rhythm, Shiver is the kind of song that lingers long after the final note fades, a fitting end to a record that’s as visceral as it is cathartic.

At its core, The Program is about shedding inhibitions—both musically and emotionally. Justin Benlolo’s growth as a songwriter is on full display, but more importantly, there’s a newfound fearlessness here. BRKN LOVE aren’t concerned with fitting into a mold or playing it safe. This album is dirty, it’s loud, it’s heartfelt, and above all else, it’s real.

So, if you’re looking for a rock record that doesn’t just go through the motions but feels like a living, breathing, whiskey-soaked, sweat-drenched experience, The Program is it. Crank it up, let it rip, and get lost in the chaos.

Because BRKN LOVE aren’t just making music. They’re making damn sure you feel it.

VERDICT: 4/5