Albums

Album Review : Royal Blood, ‘Back To The Water Below’

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Posted on 24th September 2023

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Review by Maria Glover for MPM

Royal Blood are English rock duo Mike Kerr (vocals and bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums). They were signed by Warner Chappell Music in 2013 and have since released four albums: ‘Royal Blood’ (2014), ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ (2017), ‘Typhoons’ (2021), and the latest self-produced release ‘Back to the Water Below’.

This album will no doubt be a hit with devoted Royal Blood fans as the duo seem to get slicker in their composition, and more cohesive as they develop in their career as one of the foremost emerging rock bands in the UK.

They offer up a truly monolithic sound that envelopes and consumes you, through just 2 people which I always find amazing, and this isn’t a set of 10 songs that all sound exactly alike, but there is nothing on the album that stands out to me, nothing that grabs me as different or unique.

The distortion on opening track ‘Mountain at Midnight’ leaves me disorientated and I don’t like the ‘ooh ah’ backing vocals but this is a slab of chaotic britpop with an enduring ear-worm chorus.

‘Shiner In The Dark’ is more full-bodied, and I love the sludgy guitar tones, the more melodious style showing a seductive vocal. The drums are colossal and there is a great production to the whole song.

Bluesy ‘Pull Me Through’ again shows a strength of vocal and the almost gentle piano accompanied verse rises to a menacing chorus. “Sinking to the bottom” reads as ‘rising to the top’ to me! I love this.

Drum-led ‘Tell Me When It’s Too Late’ is angry, determined and commanding. But ‘The Firing Line’ doesn’t seem to reach its destination and ‘How Many More Times’ leaves me feeling underwhelmed.

A standout track for me is ‘Triggers’ which is highly enjoyable pop-rock that weaves its way into your brain. I want the bass on ‘High Waters’ to be a good deal heavier and then I would absolutely love it.

‘There Goes My Cool’ is a surprising song with an impressive composition and is a thoroughly addictive psychedelic delight, and ‘Waves’ closes the album nicely.

Aside from the odd indulgence and taste for blues, this album finds a balance between the styles of the band’s previous albums. The fact that it is self -produced should not be ignored as it is not easy to do but offers greater artistic control.

I’m a self-confessed guitar lover so maybe that’s what missing for me? I just feel they are almost there and yet not quite. But it’s all relative and taste is personal.

I do think this is a band we are proud to say are from the UK.

Back To The Water Below’ tracklist: