Review
Royal Blood's debut album 'Royal Blood' hit the rock scene in 2014 with a thunderous wallop that had everyone taking notice. Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, despite being just a duo, generate a massive sound that tricks your ears into thinking there's a full band cranking away. Kerr's bass guitar wizardry fills in all the sonic spaces traditionally covered by a guitarist, creating this thick, meaty wall of sound that's absolutely intoxicating. Their stripped-down approach doesn't sacrifice an ounce of power - if anything, it concentrates it.
The album delivers a straight shot of adrenaline from start to finish, with songs that grab you instantly and refuse to let go. Tracks like 'Out of the Black' and 'Figure It Out' showcase their talent for writing hooks that burrow into your brain while still maintaining that raw, primal heaviness that makes your head bang involuntarily. While they're clearly influenced by bands like The White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age, they bring their own distinctive energy to the table, injecting fresh life into rock music with their stripped-down approach and explosive dynamics. 'Royal Blood' stands as a killer debut that showed these guys weren't just passing through - they were here to stake their claim on the future of rock. - Karl
