Brighton duo hit it big with savagely funky techno rock reboot
The rhythm section colossus from Brighton have made a statement with their third album, Typhoons. An album which marks an evolution in their sound and attitude, and is all the better for it.
Gone is much of the portentous hammering of anvil, and bludgeoning introspection. In comes the sunshine of LA with its irresistible groove. Anthemic danceability, hard rock sensibility, disco, electronica. A raft of sheer joyous, swaggering exuberance, and joie de vivre braggadocio.
Typhoons marks a new high in the career of Royal Blood, as two become one getting down on the good foot. Producing a motherlode of funky rock hipshot, and ballsy bump and grind that pleases mind and body.
Front man and bass machine, Mike Kerr is on blistering form. The low end candy man of Royal Blood complements his signature searing riffs with excellent piano and keys accompaniment. And laces his lyrical content with the catharsis of rock and roll excess and madness.
Ben Thatcher brings his own magic to the table, too, displaying his critical understanding of serving the song to make it swing. Similar in vein to the underrated Phil Rudd of AC/DC, Thatcher drives Royal Blood with his own dirty beats done dirt cheap, ride on time. Every time. Staying in the pocket, enhancing all around him with consummate skill, letting the songs emerge.
From the Zeppelinesque riffs, and Hendrix trills, to the pounding floor fillers, the musical tightness is in fine fettle.
Excellent production values by the band, Josh Homme of QOTSA and Paul Epworth. Royal Blood come alive. It's a heady, groovy mojo of an intoxicating mix that would be the permanent soundtrack of Studio 54 if it were alive and kicking today. Click To Tweet A powerful, resonant sound that raises the spirit, punches the air, heaves the pelvic floor. It's pure groin music, relentless, sexy, base.
And from the opening howitzer salvo of, 'Trouble coming' to the piano and vocal coda of All we have is Now, you know something cool and wicked this way comes. We're kicking out the jams, then coming together, lighters raised to the heavens, as dawn breaks and the sun splits the horizon.
Kerr says Typhoons is, "euphoric, danceable and fun." But that's not the half of what this album is or does. Of the shades-wearing knowing. The strutting, slinky, infectious hedonism of the Royal Blood sonic palette. The 80s and 90s era keys, glitter ball soprano harmonies. The arpeggiators, the jazzy 7th 9th and 13th chordal work. Or the heavy, Daft Punk and Run DMC hip hopness.
Roll up your sleeves, pump up the veins, and, put the needle on the record, get up and get ready to rock and dance. Let this ultra violent weather system of a platter take you on a clean and dirty cyclonic journey upwards. Let it spin you round, out of control, and crash land you on the beaches of Planet Feelgood.
Get it. Get a hit. Go again