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Draft:Brkn Love

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BRKN LOVE
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
DiscographyBRKN LOVE discography
Years active2018–present
Labels
Members
  • Justin Benlolo (vocals, guitar)
  • Kyle Duke (guitar)
  • Nick Katz (bass)
Past membersRussel Holzman (drums)
Websitewww.brkn-love.com

BRKN LOVE is a Canadian alternative rock band from Toronto, formed in 2018.

Background

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Behind the band is Toronto singer and guitarist Justin Benlolo, who left school at the age of 16 to pursue music, moving first to New York City and then to Los Angeles. There, he recorded demos that caught the attention of producer Joel Hamilton (known for his work with Highly Suspect). Hamilton invited Benlolo to Brooklyn to record a debut album under live conditions. The band's line-up was completed with guitarist Kyle Duke, Bassist Nick Katz, and drummer Russel Holzman, all hailing from New York City.[1]

The band name came from "My manager and I made a list of my favourite albums and songs, and we kind of mixed and matched the front parts of some albums and the back words of some songs. Until we got to Brkn Love".[2]

In March 2019, after a performance in New York City, BRKN LOVE signed with Finnish label Spinefarm Records.[3] Their debut single, "Shot Down," reached number 11 on the Canadian Rock Charts. Throughout the Summer and Fall of 2019, the band toured North America, supporting acts like Dinosaur Pile-Up[4] and Pop Evil[5], and performed at the Aftershock Festival.[6]

Their self-titled debut album, "BRKN LOVE," was released on February 14, 2020, and was recognised by Loudwire as one of the 13 best debut albums of 2020.[7]

Subsequent tours included dates with Royal Tusk in Canada and, in late 2021, with Monster Truck and Big Wreck.[8]

In the Spring of 2022, BRKN LOVE toured the United States alongside '68, opening for Badflower.[9] They released two EPs that year: "Vol. 1" on June 10 and "Vol. 2" on September 23. These were followed by their second studio album, "Black Box," produced by Anton DeLost and released on November 4, 2022. The album compiled tracks from the earlier EPs along with three additional songs.[10]

In October 2024, BRKN LOVE released the single '20/20 Vision', co-written with Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman and produced by Anton DeLost. The track was featured on EA Sports' NHL 25 video game.[11] Frontman Justin Benlolo described the song as quintessential BRKN LOVE, focusing on themes of nostalgia and the important of trusting one's decisions. The band supported the release with a Southeast U.S. tour in November 2024, alongside labelmates Dead Poet Society.[12]

On March 28, 2025, BRKN LOVE released their third studio album, "The Program", via Spinefarm Records.[13] The album, produced by Anton DeLost, was inspired by Benlolo's extended stay in Charleston, South Carolina, where he found creative inspiration among new friends. The lead single, "Pulling Leeches," recorded in a single take at Foo Fighters' Studio 606, explores themes of shedding one's past and confronting parasitic relationships. Benlolo cited influences from bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys for this track.[14]

BRKN LOVE's music is characterized by gritty riffs and arena-sized hooks, drawing comparisons to bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Wolfmother. Their sound embodies a blend of alternative rock influences with a modern edge, reflecting Benlolo's admiration for artists such as Kiss, Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and Jeff Buckley.[15]

Band members

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Current Members

[edit]
  • Justin Benlolo - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2019-present)
  • Kyle Duke - lead guitar (2019-present)
  • Nick Katz - bass (2019-present)

Former Members

[edit]
  • Russell Holzman - drums (2019-2025)

Discography

[edit]
Brkn Love discography
Studio albums3
EPs2
Singles6
Music videos10

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details
Brkn Love
Black Box
The Program
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

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  • Vol. 1 (2022)
  • Vol. 2 (2022)

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album Link
US
Main.
"Shot Down" 2019 — BRKN LOVE
"Dead Weight" 2021 — Black Box
"Like a Drug" 2022 —
"20/20 Vision" 2024 — The Program
"Pulling Leeches" 2025 36 [16]
"Diamonds" —

Music videos

[edit]
Song Year Director Link
"Shot Down" 2019 Un­known [1]
"Papercuts" Nicholas Ferguson Lee [2]
"Flies in the Honey" 2020 Eric Ritcher [3]
"Crush" Un­known [4]
"Dead Weight" 2021 [5]
"Like a Drug" 2022 [6]
"Under the Knife" [7]
"Pulling Leeches" 2025 David Brodsky [8]
"Cruel" [9]

References

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  1. ^ Puchala, Les (2022-11-29). "BRKN LOVE - Loud Flash.com Concert Reviews Vancouver Vogue Theatre". Loud Flash.com. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  2. ^ Hammad, Hanan (2020-01-31). "Brkn Love & A Whole Canadian Tour: Inside Justin Benlolo's Music Career". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  3. ^ Kusano, Rodney (2019-03-08). "BRKN LOVE Sign to Spinefarm Records". OUTBURN ONLINE. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  4. ^ admin (2019-08-02). "Concert Recap: Dinosaur Pile Up, Brkn Love and Leather Feather - San Francisco". Music Junkie Press. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  5. ^ May, Emily (2019-10-05). "Pop Evil – Royal Tusk – BRKN LOVE // Lexington, KY 9.25.19". Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  6. ^ Vrazel, Jarrod (2019-04-23). "Aftershock 2019 Lineup". ZRock. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  7. ^ Richardson, Jake RichardsonJake (2020-12-31). "The 13 Best Debut Albums From Up-and-Coming Acts in 2020". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  8. ^ Boshart, Dan (2021-12-20). "BRKN LOVE: Building a New Album Between Tours and a Pendemic". 519 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  9. ^ wookubus (2022-02-18). "'68 To Join Badflower & Brkn Love On Spring U.S. Tour". Theprp.com. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  10. ^ Weaver, James (2022-10-18). "BRKN LOVE announce new album 'Black Box'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  11. ^ NEWSPOST (2024-10-05). "VIDEO NEWS: BRKN LOVE Release Lyric Video For New Single '20/20 Vision'". Bring the Noise UK. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  12. ^ "BRKN LOVE release new single "Under The Knife"". www.spinefarmrecords.com. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  13. ^ Sterdan, Darryl (2025-03-28). "Albums Of The Week: Brkn Love | The Program". Tinnitist. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  14. ^ Weaver, James (2025-02-10). "BRKN LOVE announce new album 'The Program'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  15. ^ Jolicoeur, Todd 'ToddStar' (2019-09-06). "A Dirty Dozen with JUSTIN BENLOLO from BRKN LOVE - September 2019". 100% ROCK MAGAZINE. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  16. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay: Week of April 26, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
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