The Band Camino - The Dark (LP) - White Vinyl

The Band CAMINO’s second full-length, The Dark, landed on 11 August 2023 through Elektra Records, and it plays like a confident reset from a trio that has worked out exactly what they do best. Memphis-bred and now firmly settled in Nashville, Jeffery Jordan, Spencer Stewart and Garrison Burgess sharpen their pop rock instincts here, swapping the youthful chaos of earlier EPs for sleeker architecture without losing the big heart that pulled so many fans in.

Right from the jump, the hooks are immediate. Told You So came first as a single, all bite and bounce, the kind of kiss-off that begs for a screaming crowd and a thousand phone lights. What Am I Missing sits on that sweet spot where chiming guitars meet neon synths, a reminder that this band has always lived between the guitar-driven rush of alt rock and the clean lines of modern pop. See You Later is another earworm, a brisk farewell that spins like a getaway car down a night highway. Each of these tracks showcases the roster’s secret weapon, the interplay between Jordan and Stewart. Their voices dovetail rather than duel, so verses feel like conversation and choruses land with a unified hit.

Production-wise, The Dark is buffed to a shine but not airless. Drummer Garrison Burgess anchors everything with punchy, unfussy grooves, the kind that feel just as good through venue subs as they do on a lounge-room turntable. Put The Dark vinyl on and that low end hums, giving the choruses a physical thump that streaming can flatten. The guitars still cut with that familiar CAMINO shimmer, but they sit in a wider frame now, giving the songs space to swell and contract. It is the kind of record that reveals small choices on repeat listens, like a backing vocal tucked under a bridge or a synth that blooms at the last second.

Lyrically, the band leans into everyday drama, and that is part of the charm. These aren’t abstract puzzles. They write about the text that never came, the dumb things you say when you are angry, the quiet confidence that arrives months after the breakup when you realise you survived it. That clarity keeps the record grounded even as the choruses chase euphoria. When they do go for the big, windows-down moment, they make it count, and they almost always earn it with a tidy pre-chorus or a sly melodic turn.

If you have followed them since the days of Daphne Blue, you will hear the through line. The Band CAMINO still loves a clean guitar line, still loves a bridge that lifts, and still trades in melodies you can belt after one play. The difference now is how assured it feels. They sound like a band that has played a lot of rooms, learned what lights people up, and then wrote to that feeling without pandering to it. No wonder these songs slot so easily into their setlists, elbow to elbow with fan favourites and greeted like they have always been there.

It has also been gratifying to see The Dark picked up by fans and critics alike. The singles spread quickly across playlists, and the album’s rollout set them up for a packed touring run. In interviews around release, the trio talked about pushing themselves while staying honest, and that checks out when you hear the sequencing. The pacing is smart, front-loading a couple of instant hits, then easing into a few slower burners that round out the mood.

For those of us who still wander into a Melbourne record store on a Saturday, thumb through the bins and trust our gut, The Dark is an easy recommendation. If you are hunting The Band CAMINO vinyl, this is the one that will see the most spins. It is the kind of modern pop rock album that rewards a full side, not just a playlist shuffle. You can buy The Band CAMINO records online, sure, but catching The Dark vinyl in the wild, sliding it from a sleeve and feeling that weight, has its own thrill. And for anyone building out a shelf of new favourites, The Band CAMINO albums on vinyl sit neatly next to your 1975 and Bleachers records, a tidy run of high-gloss heartbreak and catharsis. If you are crate-digging across vinyl records Australia, keep an eye out. This one sounds warm, looks sharp, and wears its heart on its sleeve, which is exactly how this band has always felt at their best.