Written by Tom Bedding
Through self reflection and true pursuit for what comes naturally to them, Royal Blood offer us an impressive and brilliantly spirited 'Disco Rock' record. Some will comment only on the new sound but the meaning behind this LP is where it can truly grab ahold of you, for a rock meets multicolour light show.
Royal Blood have become one of the most loved and talked about UK rock outfits, since bursting onto the scene back in 2013/14. After two number one albums (with one being announced while performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury), a Brit award and delivering a successful mini arena tour, there was still questions with regards of what else can this duo do?
Through having their eyes opened by Josh Homme of what is possible for them musically, Mike Kerr becoming sober and writing some beautifully honest lyrics and the mighty duo truly allowing their dance music shoes on, the bands third album is a triumph shift. ‘Typhoons’ has given Royal Blood a new sense of life, moulding their beastly sound to make you feel like you are dancing all night through the demons and troubles that come with life. The Brighton duo have given us a new angle to enjoy the band from and songs that will truly help you reflect and honestly look at yourself for the better.
The lead single for the bands freshly inspired third album starts things off and oh boi, it hits the nail on the head. ‘Troubles Coming’ was dubbed as an AC/DC meets disco experience, which opened the doors for us all on the bands new venture, smashing us in a way that only Royal Blood can. The groove is mightily infectious, with Mikes vocals sounding so perfect for this new song…you question, how did we even worry about this new ‘era’? The boldness and confidence is heard in Ben Thatchers drumming and the riff too in the middle eight too, you have to say it is the perfect way to start this spellbinding record.
Early Daft Punk is mashed with some classic songwriting in the thumbing, ‘Oblivion’. The deeper base tones make the verses playful, which is backed up by some slick backing vocals. The chorus hits you with a force with its stingy riff and Mike Kerr facing his turbulent past straight in the eye.
Then a monster of a track in ‘Typhoons’ follows, which blew up upon its release, at the start of the year. Mike really tapped into his struggles with his mental health and overall wellbeing, which is honestly looked at during the pre-chorus. ‘Cause all these chemicals dancing through my veins, they don’t kill the cause…I need waking up, I should face the truth’ is brilliantly honest and a fantastic moment that will resonate so many who are buzzed to sing this one back to the band.
'Typhoons' has a riff that truly matches up to the lyrics sentiment and the dance nature of the track is sublime, it sends your mind wild in the disco lights and wanting to mosh like mad, especially with that rising riff…urghhh its something right?! Another noteworthy aspect is Thatchers swaggery drumming, he sounds so tight and immense throughout this fantastic song.
One of the impressive and honourable parts of the duo’s third record is how head on the lyrics are by Mike, covering all corners of dealing with the intoxication of the pleasures that can come our way, especially on ‘Who Needs Friends’; the frontman goes at the vultures and leachers who grab onto struggling successful people, to full affect. The riff is similar to what we heard off the Brighton outfit’s second LP, however it has this fresh colourful force over it, that is only found on ‘Typhoons’. The hook is great and is captivating when used as the bridge, also the drumming shines so well….gotta love the cowbell man.
The way ‘Million and One’ begins, it feels magical with the production work and Kerr's bass playing. The dance elements of the keys and drumming is solid, with a more restraint melody that is extremely impactful at this stage of the LP. Passionate lyrics take centre stage throughout, ‘but you didn’t throw me away, you made me believe I could change, don’t say I did it on my own’ stands out as a lovely and touching tribute to loved ones who in many ways or ways they did not realise, helped you during dark times.
It is obvious the shift Royal Blood have made with their third record, something that is too easy to repeat and repeat when reviewing ‘Typhoons’. However you can really see and feel how much (while still feeling natural) Ben Thatcher and Mike Kerr wanted to change their game on the single, ‘Limbo’. The ambition of this disco like track is commendable, with Mikes vocals fitting so well with it and the drumming by Ben being so fucking effective. It may not feel like an epic or groundbreaking experience this song, yet it really does represent the duos intentions and freshness on the LP.
source: Royal Blood official website
The pop sensibility found in the riff and Thatchers drumming is a great twist on ‘Either You Want It’, you could imagine Robbie Williams wanting to strut to this one around his mansion….actually maybe that image isn’t as pleasing as I first thought. Ben’s drumming is let loose a tad here which freshens this moment up on ‘Typhoons’, with also the sweetness of the melody being a nice touch. It may lack an extra ingredient but it does fit perfectly during the second of half of the album.
During the bands mini tour and successful sub headlining slot at Reading and Leeds in 2019, fans heard some new music and instantly they were sending everyone crazy, leaving them wanting the official release of them. Eventually we were given one and it was soooooo worth the wait.
Recorded and produced by Josh Homme, ‘Boilmaker’ shows off what is so captivating about Royal Blood and how fun their fundamental spirit is. Heavily inspired by Homme and the sound he was delivering with Queens and his side projects at the time, this madly anticipated single offers an awesome riff, effective drumming and rock’n’roll spirt that no one can say no to.
Mike and Bens love for Daft Punk has been noticeable in interviews for a while now, so it is really awesome to hear them truly take that admiration into their music strongly for this release. The best example of this is ‘Mad Visions’, which is a proper pop disco cut (which could suit their best buds, Black Honey in fact) and has a bass sound that is very similar to the iconic, ‘Harder, Better, Faster Stronger’.
Then, the passionate pop rock pf ‘Hold On’ has a lovely 00’s pop nod to it within its melody, bringing together Mikes love for a pop melody and the arena sound that Royal Blood are growing into more and more, as time goes on.
The records massive twist comes right at the end with its closing number, called ‘All We Have Is Now’. Everything is stripped back on this short number, leaving Mike on his own with a piano. Yes it could be longer and be filled out more but the moment we experience during the final track is very impactful. The truths of existence is felt hard throughout, with the lyrics constantly giving us lines about how beautiful but fleeting our time on this planet is, sending anyone who has contemplated their life due to any factors, to a spine tingling moment of reflection.
If you just take the albums sound into account, then this final song could underwhelm you, however if you truly get what ’Typhoons’ is really all about, it is the perfect way to close this significant chapter for Royal Blood.
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