Royal blood lights out review8/6/2023 ![]() Even though they miss that mark, the album is still enjoyable and shows Royal Blood still know how to rock out.It’s not often you’d want the roof blown off a brand new building, but that’s what Brighton duo Royal Blood did on Saturday night at Swansea Arena. You can hear their struggle to stay true to themselves yet tweak just enough to rise above their debut. The band dials it back in terms of sound leaving for songs that are kind of lifeless. While there are still tracks filled with top-notch riffs, pure rock n roll attitude, and a touch of seduction, something is missing. How Did We Get So Dark? is a solid follow-up from Royal Blood, but it fails to capture the raw energy and excitement of their first release. Still, Royal Blood opted to try something different making sure the album wasn’t a carbon copy of their previous release. Unlike the stand out songs on the LP, these aren’t exciting or thrilling. The band clearly holds back and soften up their sound a bit, but the result is dull. You’ll be hard pressed to remember what they sound like once the record ends. There’s little about them that makes them stick with you. “Hole in Your Heart” and “Sleep” aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re not interesting. The last two songs are particularly forgettable. Also, it’s Royal Blood talking about a love affair but with a sappy vibe. Something about it feels forced and boring. While it sounds good during the verses, it sounds off when we get to the hook. “Don’t Tell” is a slow burning track that finds Kerr switching to falsetto vocals. The first half of the album sounds like business as usual albeit not as raw, but midway they tweak things slightly. This album finds the band struggling with sticking to their rock formula and trying something different. While there are a number of badass songs that get you pumped like “I Only Lie when I Love You,” “Where Are You Now,” and “Look Like You Know,” the others are sadly unremarkable. Whereas their first album was exhilarating, heart racing, and just all around good, this one feels like something is missing. Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn’t follow suit. These tracks are stellar and find the band doing what they’re good at: rocking the hell out. It’s the heaviest track on the LP and reminds you why Royal Blood garnered so much praise when they first came out. This is a song that commands your attention and won’t let go until it’s over. It’s a punch to the gut with the wild, roaring riffs and explosive energy. ![]() It has all the qualities that make a badass Royal Blood song: killer riff, aggressive sound, brutal vibe, and rough, dirty music. “Hook, Line & Sinker” is an absolute beast. It’s a stand out track that’ll instantly lodge itself into your head. The riff is unforgettable and slightly rough around the edges. The mood is sexy and seductive as Kerr sings “She’s creeping/into my bloodstream.” The track sounds slinky and smooth as if setting the mood for a romantic night. ![]() “She’s Creeping” grabs you with its sneaking riff perfectly matching the song’s title. The band cranks it up on the blistering single “Lights Out.” The song is smoldering and intense with Mike Kerr’s screaming bass riff and Ben Thatcher’s pummeling drums. It’s fiery, energetic, and has a great hook you’ll be singing in no time. It’s not as heavy or in-your-face like their past efforts, but it still packs a punch. ![]() The opening title track kicks things off right with an upbeat vibe and gruff riffs we come to expect from the band. Expectations were high for How Did We Get So Dark? and while it’s not a bad record by any means, you can hear the band struggling to meet expectations. ![]() But when a band earns so much praise in a short amount of time, it’s easy to cave under pressure when it’s time for the follow-up. Their raw aggression and heavy sound quickly earned them the title of best new rock band. When Royal Blood dropped their self-titled debut in 2014, it lit a fire in rock music. ![]()
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