From Premier Guitar.
Royal Blood announce the September 8 release of their fourth album Back To The Water Below and share its lead single “Mountains At Midnight”. Listen HERE.
Throughout, their story has been one of independence. Relying on their friendship and intuitive musicianship to guide them through as they were catapulted into theaters and arenas around the world, favoring working independently away from prying eyes rather than enlisting the help of the latest big-name co-writer. Their victories have come from hard work, prodigious songwriting, fierce performances, and a smidgeon of good fortune. That spirit of independence continues into Back To The Water Below, which saw them self-produce an entire album for the very first time. It was a process which cancelled out the noise of any external influences, while also allowing them the convenience to write at their own studio in Brighton whenever inspiration struck.
They discovered that the best ideas were the result of following their instincts — their unspoken, subconscious connection honed over the course of 15 years playing music together. Just as importantly, they cast aside any preconceptions of what Royal Blood should be. They allowed themselves the freedom to embrace other ideas, at times being guided by melodies rather than riffs and rhythms, and in others deploying whatever instrumentation they felt best complemented the songs. If in doubt, they remembered a nugget of advice offered by Rick Rubin – that the sound of Royal Blood isn’t defined by genre or the instruments that they play, but by the unique chemistry forged by the two friends.
But as the single “Mountains At Midnight” proves, sometimes the result was a fresh take on the old school Royal Blood prototype – albeit with a supercharged rush. As we’ve come to expect, Mike Kerr inventively layers a heavyweight wall-of-sound solely with his bass, while Ben Thatcher’s rhythms simultaneously swing with a spacious groove while pummelling us into submission. Meanwhile, Mike’s lyrics complement the song’s ominous, foreboding ambiance with vehement menace: “I’m a ticking timebomb hooligan come to light your fuse / 24-carat thug in a velvet glove.”
Elsewhere, Royal Blood present plenty of surprises without ever compromising the essence of their identity. “Shiner In The Dark” sets a rock ‘n roll swagger to the tight, danceable rhythms that defined the 2021 album Typhoons. Devoid of distortion, “The Firing Line” represents a bigger departure, its ‘90s alt-rock tone and an underbelly of psychedelia later elevated by a chiming piano melody. “Pull Me Through” goes further still, uniting the plaintive piano that fans loved in the live favourite “All We Have Is Now” with a full-blooded denouement. They’re also songs which will not only provide a broader spectrum of moods for live shows, but that will offer the dynamic contrast to amplify the power of their most fiery moments.
1. Mountains At Midnight
2. Shiner In The Dark
3. Pull Me Through
4. The Firing Line
5. Tell Me When It’s Too Late
6. Triggers
7. How Many More Times
8. High Waters
9. There Goes My Cool
10. Waves Deluxe Edition 7” single bonus tracks:
11. Supermodel Avalanches
12. Everything’s Fine
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- Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? - 180gm - UK - vinyl LP - £19.99, $24.39, €23.19 (New Item) (arrived 16-Aug-2023 09:40)on September 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
ROYAL BLOOD How Did We Get So Dark? (2017 UK limited edition 10-track audiophile LP pressed on 180gram vinyl, including the singles Lights Out and I Only Lie When I Love You, housed in a picture sleeve with lyric printed inner. The sleeve shows only minor wear and the vinyl looks barely played)
- Royal Blood - Royal Blood - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $152.50, €145.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 09-Jun-2023 16:13)on September 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
ROYAL BLOOD Royal Blood (Rare 2015 UK 10-track LP, complete with illustrated lyric inner, individually numbered reverse image picture sleeve. This copy remains factory sealed from new in the original custom stickered shrink, mint & unplayed)
- Royal Blood - Royal Blood - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $152.50, €145.00 (New Item) (arrived 07-Jun-2023 07:55)on September 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
ROYAL BLOOD Royal Blood (Rare 2015 UK 10-track LP, complete with illustrated lyric inner, individually numbered reverse image picture sleeve. This copy remains factory sealed from new in the original custom stickered shrink, mint & unplayed)
- Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? - 180gm - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £24.99, $30.49, €28.99 (Back In Stock) (arrived 08-May-2023 14:12)on September 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
ROYAL BLOOD How Did We Get So Dark? (2017 UK limited edition 10-track audiophile LP pressed on 180gramVinyl, including the singles Lights Out and I Only Lie When I Love You, picture sleeve. This copy remains factory sealed in the original custom stickered shrink & is therefore still mint & unplayed)
- Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? - 180gram White Vinyl + Shrink - UK - vinyl LP - £34.99, $42.69, €40.59 (New Item) (arrived 29-Mar-2023 15:18)on September 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
ROYAL BLOOD How Did We Get So Dark? (2017 UK limited edition 10-track LP pressed on 180gram White Vinyl, the follow-up to their massive eponymously debut studio album, including the singles Lights Out and I Only Lie When I Love You. Thevinyl looks barely played issued in the picture sleeve which retains its opened hype-stickered shrinkwrap and comes with the picture / lyric inner)
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