DON BROCO | CELLOPHANE TRACK REVIEW

‘Head in the cloud while I suffocate’ “Cellophane” sees Don Broco peel back the layers of pressure and paranoia in a track that feels like a scream trapped under pressure. 

Don Broco is a British rock band known for their genre-blending sound, combining alternative rock, post-hardcore, and electronic elements with a sharp, modern edge. Their music often mixes groove-driven riffs, anthemic hooks, and punchy rhythms, delivered with a mix of aggression, swagger, and tongue-in-cheek energy. Over the years, they’ve carved a unique niche in the UK rock scene, constantly pushing boundaries and evolving with each release  

Don Broco have built their reputation for being one of the UK’s genre-fluid rock bands. They use a blend of alternative rock, post-hardcore, pop, and electronic elements to develop a sound that’s equal parts chaotic, catchy, and cinematic. Influenced by musicians like Linkin Park, Deftones, and Enter Shikari, they’ve carved out a lane that’s both aggressive and accessible, balancing heavy guitar work with slick grooves, anthem choruses, and playful experimentation. 

With “Cellophane,” Don Broco leans deeper into darker, more suffocating territory both sonically and lyrically. The track trades their usual tongue-in-cheek bravado for something more visceral and claustrophobic, echoing themes of mental pressure, isolation, and media distortion. It’s a moodier, more emotionally raw evolution of their sound, without losing the band’s trademark energy or flair for the theatrical. If past singles were wild rides, “Cellophane” is a slow-burning collapse, intense, calculated, and deliberately uncomfortable. Cellophane was created from confronting the truth of personal weakness. The song explores the fear and inner reckoning that comes with acknowledging mental struggles, vulnerability, and resistance to seeking help Rather than referencing politics or social commentary, the track centres on intimate, internal conflict: feeling inadequate, suffocated by expectations, and bottled up despite outward appearances.  

Musically and lyrically, “Cellophane” is one of Don Broco’s darkest and most emotionally raw tracks to date. Lyrically, it explores themes of mental fragility, internal pressure, and the fear of admitting weakness. Lyrics like “Head in the cloud while I suffocate” capture the emotional weight of the song, detached on the surface, but drowning underneath.  

The production, by Dan Lancaster (Muse, Bring Me the Horizon), used a style of layering gritty guitars, industrial beats, and atmospheric synths to create a suffocating sonic landscape that mirrors the lyrical content. Rob Damiani delivers a restrained but intense performance, moving from melodic verses to explosive choruses that feel more like a breakdown than a release of emotion. There’s a constant sense of tension, claustrophobic and unrelenting, with even the loudest moments offering little relief. The accompanying music video enhances this unease, presenting surreal, nightmarish imagery and faceless characters that blur the line between reality and delusion  

On first listen, “Cellophane” hit me as one of Don Broco’s most intense and emotionally claustrophobic tracks yet. It immediately stood out for its raw honesty and the way it channels internal pressure into something sonically heavy and atmospherically tight. The restraint in the verses, paired with the almost frantic energy in the chorus, really pulled me in; it felt less like a typical rock single and more like a controlled descent into panic. One of its biggest strengths is how well it mirrors the lyrical content with production; everything from the distorted guitars to the boxed-in vocal delivery adds to the feeling of suffocation. However, fans looking for something as anthemic as T-Shirt Song or Come Out to LA might not find that same payoff here but emotionally and creatively, this track hits a new level. It leans closer to the darker side of bands like Bring Me the Horizon or early Linkin Park, and I’d recommend it to anyone into heavy alt-rock, post-hardcore, or introspective nu-metal. It’s a bold move, and one that shows Don Broco aren’t afraid to get vulnerable even when it gets uncomfortable. 

“Cellophane” has been a bold shift for Don Broco, swapping their usual established sound for something darker and more vulnerable. This intense, emotionally heavy change has shown real growth in their sound, leaving a lasting impact. I’d give it a solid 8.5/10 for its ambition, execution, and emotional effects. If you haven’t checked out “Cellophane” yet give it a listen. It’s not just a song, it’s an experience worth sitting with.