I had heard a couple songs by Royal Blood, but I hadn't really taken the time to listen to their music until I saw they had released a new album, How Did We Get So Dark?. I decided to put the album on a couple weeks ago as I was doing some research, and found myself much too distracted by the music to continue. It's good, simple rock n' roll; when I say simple, I don't mean that in a derogatory manner. I mean it bass guitar, drums, and vocals. There's a couple additional elements in some of the songs, but for the most part, these three elements are all that the band needs to create fantastic music. Their songs do not give the impression of being limited by the fact that there's only 2 members of the band (something I found almost unbelievable). And it's also hard to believe that Mike Kerr makes the sounds he makes on a bass guitar. It gives it a really cool quality, since he's playing it more like one would an electric guitar. Not to mention he sings all the vocals simultaneously.
But back to the new album. It's kick ass and a blast of fun from start to finish. Songs like "Lights Out", "I Only Lie When I Love You", and the title track really set the pace and tone for the entirety of the album. "Lights Out" features a rumbling low bass line that Kerr proceeds to use to allow his vocals to take the spotlight. He uses falsetto on a couple of songs, but this is one where he opts for pushing with his chest voice and adding to the intensity of the crashing drums and bass guitar hits of the chorus. "I Only Lie When I Love You" grabs you from the get-go, with a focus on the drums that gives the song a heightened sense of swagger that's added to by a great synchronization between the timing of the bass and drums (plus there's cowbell. We always need more cowbell). The title track uses a few moments of gang vocals during the pre-chorus and great harmonies on the chorus to introduce the listener to the ride that they're about to embark on. The balance is present on this song as well between all three elements, each having their time to shine as well as pushing the intensity of the song together. The bridge is my favorite part of the track, starting with a great solo riff for the bass while Ben Thatcher simultaneously shows off his drumming skills. It then evolves into a growing outro, with the repeated "How Did We Get So Dark" of the vocals allowing the bass and drums to continue playing off each other as they build the song more and more until it stops on a dime.
"Where Are You Now?" starts off with a drumbeat that feels like a galloping horse, pulling you along for a ride before switching tempos for the chorus, which consists of a sweet bass riff and Kerr in the background softly asking the title question. This song highlights how the band is able to balance showcasing vocals/lyrics and the instrumental itself throughout the album. They're really good at the instruments they play, and they make sure people recognize that.
The band isn't afraid to slow things down a little, like on "Don't Tell" and "She's Creeping". The former and the later is guided in by a very high bass line, Kerr's vocals, and a sharp drum beat. Both songs still crank the distortion and intensity, so don't think they're getting soft on you; both songs also are great examples of Kerr's vocal abilities, with his falsetto highlighting on the choruses. "Don't Tell" features one of the few solos on the album, which fits the vibe of the song very well.
The last song leads into what is my favorite song on the album, "Hook, Line & Sinker". It kicks things off right from the start, with a bass riff reminiscent of Muse's earlier material (think "Hysteria") and pushes on into a verse where Kerr's vocals and the bass match tone and movement. The song definitely has swagger to it as well, especially with Kerr's delivery and annunciation of the lyrics. It never lets up for a moment, with the pauses and breaks creating little breaths in the song and providing moments of contrast that make the highs even higher. The bridge builds into a short little set of solo riffs that remind me of "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes. The song ends just as intense as it begins; even as I write this, I cannot help but tap my foot and want to bang my head along.
"Hole In Your Heart" and "Sleep" end the album, but definitely don't let it go out without a bang. "Hold In Your Heart" features one of the heavier choruses on the album, as well as one of the few prominent keyboard parts during the verses. The bridge especially feels like something Muse would have done, with the harmonized vocals having a slightly haunting vibe as the bass and drums utilize the off beats to create a really captivating instrumental. "Sleep" feels like this brooding monster during the verses, with the bass dark and gritty in the background before it joins Kerr's vocals in the foreground. The bass is the star of this song, and it gets it's final solo on the tail end of the bridge. The song fades out for the last 40 seconds with Kerr singing softly and the bass repeating a note again and again.
I was super impressed with this album. I haven't listened to more straight up rock n' roll in a while, and I really, really enjoyed the organic and simple aspect of these tracks. If you haven't checked them out, you're missing out on a great time with a great band.
Rating: 5/5
Related: Foo Fighters, Muse, The White Stripes
Recommended: "Hook, Line & Sinker", "I Only Lie When I Love You", "How Did We Get So Dark?"
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