BRONCO FORTE Brings The Stoner-Tinged Grunge On New Single "Lightning Scar"

After decades of desert doom retreads and overworked sludge aesthetics, Bronco Forte arrive with a clear-eyed reminder of what heavy rock was built on: driving riffs, unforgettable melodies, and songs that actually stick. The Los Angeles quartet’s debut full-length album, Lightning Scars, lands April 3, 2026, and it feels less like a nostalgic exercise than a necessary course correction.

Rooted in the stark power that once made bands like Kyuss, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden generational touchstones, Bronco Forte strip heavy rock back to its essentials. The result is an album that’s thick with grit and groove but sharpened by pop-minded hooks, smart arrangements, and emotionally grounded songwriting.

After years of quiet preparation, Lightning Scars introduces Bronco Forte as a fully realized force. The record chronicles uncertain lives lived across California’s cities and open spaces, following ordinary people trying to hold onto their integrity as the world shifts beneath their feet. There’s a literary weight to the lyrics, but it’s balanced by kitchen-sink realism — stories that feel lived-in rather than mythologized.

Musically, the band thrives on contrast. The riffs are deep, dirty, and swing hard, locking into grooves that demand physical response. Song structures are thoughtful without ever feeling overwrought, and the band’s strategic use of vocal harmonies adds a striking melodic brightness that cuts through the album’s swampy low end. It’s heavy rock that knows when to hit hard — and when to let melody do the damage.

At the center is guitarist and vocalist Chris Klepac, whose focused songwriting and poignant delivery anchor the record. His approach meshes seamlessly with the energetic riff work of guitarist Sako Injaian (All Hail The Yeti), creating songs that feel both muscular and immediate.

The rhythm section — bassist Jen Glomboski (White Forest) and drummer Geoff Summers (Batillus, A Storm Of Light) — provides a rock-solid foundation, locking the band into a relentless forward drive that mirrors the endless concrete sprawl of Southern California itself.

Lightning Scars was tracked and mixed by Kevin McCombs (Linkin Park, Story Of The Year) at the legendary Steakhouse Studio in North Hollywood — the same room where Queens Of The Stone Age recorded Era Vulgaris. Mastering duties were handled by heavy rock specialist Nick Townsend (Alice In Chains, Frankie And The Witch Fingers), who cut the album to lacquer on his personal lathe, adding an analog weight that perfectly suits the material. Artwork from Kevin “fetusK” Bernier (Intronaut, Prosthetic Records) completes the album’s stark, tactile presentation.

Lightning Scars will be available on LP, CD, and digital formats on April 3, 2026. Get it here.