Indie rock is alive and well. Grab your best headphones and get lost in Rohna’s newest album, Don’t Come Down.
Rohna has been dropping breadcrumbs for this release since February 26, when they unveiled the first single, “Don’t Come Down.” Throughout the spring and summer, they followed with four more singles leading up to the August 27 release. The band’s unique lineup offers a rare listening experience, blending four distinct vocal styles with the collective talents of all five members to create an album that is nothing short of mesmerizing.
The record opens with the eponymous track, “Don’t Come Down.” Characterized by lush guitar textures, slick drum rhythms, broad chords, and dreamy vocals, it’s a spectacular welcome for both new and returning listeners. The bass line drives the song forward, while Nick Rovello’s standout vocals, supported by layered harmonies, soar in intervals that leave you feeling weightless. The storytelling carries a sense of familiarity, and lyrics like “Just keep on floating / Don’t Come Down / Just keep on floating / We’ll figure it out” provide a comforting reassurance.
Missed opportunities have never sounded as good as they do on “Eclipse.” With driving percussion and syncopated rhythms, the track is irresistibly head-nodding. Lyrics such as “I can barely rest / Wish we had another chance to find us” hit with striking vulnerability. Paired with psychedelic guitar effects, ride cymbals, and distorted vocals, the song builds to a cathartic close that feels like healing for the soul.
Delays and echoes paint the perfect portrait for the third track, “Chasing Shadows.” Bending the pitch, mellow vocals, and chunky bass propel the piece towards a breakdown worthy of rock legends.
Reminiscent of the greats, this breakdown has distorted guitar, echoing vocals, a rocking drum kit feature, and a piercing guitar solo. It all drops out from under you, holding you in a blissful limbo, anticipating the inevitable drop. The groove resumes and fades out, back to the original echoes where we began.
“Are you spending all your dopamine / On petty things and useless little pipe dreams?” Rohna doesn’t hold back with their next track, “What You Wanted.” This song gives you all the good Indie rock vibes your soul needs.
Picture yourself driving down the road, windows down, scream-singing at the top of your lungs. That’s this song. Pounding rhythms give way to dreamy psychedelic synth as it slowly fades away.
Lush guitar, lovely vocal intervals, and mellow feel make you instantly want to sing along with “Threads.” The guitar supports the long-sustained vocals, and the piece slowly grows as it progresses, building to the pinnacle.
An explosion of complicated, driving rhythms shows off drummer Luca Canalungo’s prowess. Siren-like features are joined by mellow guitar chords and dreamy keys.
Gorgeous harmonies blend seamlessly, making the piece feel textured-like the threads of life woven together.
Like being shaken from the dreamscape that was laid out before us, “Runnin’ Out of Remedies" opens up with indie rock vocals and rhythms. I can imagine being the crowd shouting along at shows on the upcoming tour. This is an anthem that represents a universal experience. Dreamy chords float in while the kick drives underneath and the vocalist calls out, “I need something / Just a little more.”
Bassist Andres Hernandez lays down a thick groove as the track picks up speed—racing toward a time breakdown that closes the song.
“Haunt You” opens with edgy guitar, vocals, and drum kit that draw in the listener. The verse transforms into a pre-chorus that evokes a spectral feeling, mirrored in the lyrics. Reminiscent of the golden era of indie rock, the band shows off by playing around with chromatics, harmonies, bass line, and masterful interplay between all the elements. An awesome breakdown fades into distortion and slowly disappears.
Opening with overlapping arpeggios and the steady click of sticks, “You’d Kill Anything” slowly grows into a standout track on this album. A luxurious bass line supports the sweet vocals that hover above and intertwine with indie guitar.
As the band plays with time, we hear syncopation, intentional breaks in the music, and vocals that break over a wave of sound. Rolling percussion and arpeggios are joined by cymbals crashing through (get it?) the piece before fading out.
Words can hardly capture the brilliance of “Mountain Jam.” It feels like the soundtrack to a movie montage—sunlight streaming through car windows, friends laughing around a campfire, and stargazing beneath endless galaxies. The track radiates warmth and wonder, wrapping the listener in a main-character moment.
The lyric, “Nothing weighing down on me / Like there’s no gravity,” perfectly sums up the carefree feeling of this piece. Lively guitar arpeggios, fun syncopated rhythms, clapping rhythms that will fill venues on tour, and smooth harmonies fill this piece with life and joy.
“Tired Eyes” is a mellow and cathartic end to this album. Hernandez is back at it again with a groovy bass lick accompanied by soothing vocals and psychedelic guitar riffs. The guitar solo is echoed in a lower harmony and is supported by the full sound and warm color of the acoustic guitar.
What an inviting, mellow, and lovely outro for this album. As it fades, each piece of the ensemble gets to shine for a moment longer over this five-minute work.
Don’t Come Down is the product of years of hard work that Rohna has spent mastering the art of genre-blending. With elements ranging from psychedelic to alternative, and indie to rock, they showcased their growth over the past six years as a band.
Do yourself a favor and check out Rohna’s national Don't Come Down Tour.
