Royal Blood
Royal Blood
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

2014 original with insert. In their self-titled debut album, Royal Blood bursts onto the scene with an electrifying vigor that immediately catches the listener's attention. The Brighton duo, consisting of Mike Kerr on bass and vocals and Ben Thatcher on drums, distills a potent blend of hard rock, blues, and garage influences into a raw, minimalist framework that defies the limits of a two-piece band. The album is a towering wall of sound, with Kerr's bass guitar, often treated through an array of effects pedals, delivering riffs that are as catchy as they are heavy. Tracks like "Out of the Black" and "Little Monster" highlight the band's ability to craft anthemic choruses while maintaining an edge of ferocity, showcasing a songwriting prowess that belies their limited instrumental setup. Critics like NME and Rolling Stone have praised Royal Blood for their ability to inject a new vitality into the rock genre, drawing comparisons to musically kindred spirits such as Queens of the Stone Age and The White Stripes.

While the album is often praised for its energetic and visceral delivery, some critics have noted a certain homogeneity across its ten tracks, pointing to a potential limitation in the band's sonic palette. However, this perceived limitation can also be seen as a testament to their cohesion and focus, with each track contributing to an overarching sense of urgency and melodic force. Songs like "Figure It Out" and "Loose Change" further demonstrate the band's knack for creating tension and release within compressed song structures, hinting at a complexity that might be fully realized in future records. Despite these criticisms, Royal Blood's debut has been heralded as a significant contribution to the rock music landscape of the 2010s, cementing their status as a formidable force in modern rock and leaving listeners eager for what comes next.