Don Broco collaborated with Nickelback and recorded using Muse’s equipment.

British band Don Broco recently released their fifth album, Nightmare Tripping, a record that prominently features the thunderous basslines of Tom Doyle. Doyle, the band’s bassist, navigates a fine line between pop rock and nu metal, shaping his bass parts with a focus on supporting the guitars and enhancing the song’s frequencies.

Doyle emphasized the importance of understanding one’s role as a bass player, noting that the key is to provide a solid foundation for the guitars while supplementing any missing frequencies. Rather than trying to steal the spotlight, he believes in playing for the song and meshing with the drummer to create a cohesive musical experience. “You should be holding it down with the drummer and playing for the song, not to show off,” he explained. “If you overplay on bass, you’ll just get lost, but if you can find those little pockets where it can just pop at the right moment, you can give the listener something really interesting.”

Nightmare Tripping stands out for its robust bass work, with Doyle delivering energetic, riff-driven lines that complement guitarist Simon Delaney’s playing. Doyle shared insights into the band’s tuning choices, revealing that many of their new songs are in low tunings. To adapt to the guitar’s deep tones, Doyle tunes his bass accordingly, often matching Simon’s 7-string guitar tuned to A.

For live performances of certain tracks like “Cellophane” and “Hype Man,” Doyle tunes his bass even lower to a low G to cover the full spectrum of the song. Doyle also spoke about the collaborative process with guitarist Simon Delaney, where they sync up their tunings to create a cohesive sound. “A lot of the new songs are already in pretty low tunings,” he shared. “Si might be playing a 7-string guitar tuned to A, with an octave beneath that as part of his tone, so I have to be able to play the lower octave as my fundamental.”

The intricate dynamics between Doyle and Delaney result in a sonically rich and captivating listening experience. Despite the technical challenges of matching Delaney’s deep guitar tones, Doyle deftly navigates these complexities to craft a solid foundation that underpins Don Broco’s music. With Nightmare Tripping, the band showcases their unique musical identity by striking a balance between explosive basslines and intricate guitar work, culminating in a sound that captivates listeners and sets them apart in the rock landscape.