I’d hazard a guess and say that pretty much everyone and their nan loves a bit of Royal Blood; if you have an incredibly cool nan, that is…
If I guessed correctly then that’s no real shock, not because I’m intelligent but because Royal Blood is pretty damn awesome. The band’s eponymous debut in 2014 is rightly celebrated as an indelible homage to the power of the duo – with Mike Kerr (vocals, bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums) crafting an almost spotless run of worthy headbangers.
2017 brought us the release of the band’s sophomore effort, How Did We Get So Dark? Besides robbing Billie Eilish of future album titles, HDWGSD (sounding more akin to me smashing my head on the keyboard than an actual acronym) didn’t really do anything new. It was the familiar mix of hard rock, blues rock with a hint of garage, anchored by Thatcher’s eruptive percussion and Kerr’s bass + pedal wizardry but it deservedly won acclaim from fans and critics alike for another outing of uncompromising rock music.
What worried me, however, is that Royal Blood might see fit to refuse evolution, artistic growth, and continue so far down the path of veneration that the lads would only have to do so much as waggle their ear lobes and then graciously accept their BRIT award – whether this is a commentary on modern consumerism or the current state of rock music I will leave down to you.
Alas, Royal Blood has – for at least one track anyway – strayed from their own rather beaten path. Trouble’s Coming doesn’t do away with the established formula of bass, drums and vocals but it certainly reimagines it. Put simply, the track is a big, glossy dance jam. Steered onward by its punchy, fuzz-lined bass riff and fleshed out with the playful synth keys, Kerr finds a comfortable spot in an arena of glamour to deliver his impassioned melodies. All in all the track is a simple affair. A few verses here, a few hooks there and the expected bass and drum intermezzo to remind fans that the lads still kick arse – instead, the song’s true grip comes from its ‘feel’. As abstract as it sounds, it’s the ‘feel’ that really keeps this song moving. You’re not relying on structure or lyrics – each as repetitive as each other – because it’s indulgent enough to sit back, bob your head and let the thick swathes of bass and jabs of kick drum consume you.
Where this track will stand in amongst a new Royal Blood album is truly a mystery, the chances of the band making 30-minutes of funk-rock being unfortunately low; albeit probably for the best. Nevertheless, Trouble’s Coming is an exercise of reassurance. Proof that Royal Blood can indeed do something different and do it well; far from being a one-trick pony after all.
Rating: 8.5/10
By Alex Mace
Feature Image Credit: Imperial Galactic