Royal Blood

When English duo Royal Blood released their self-titled debut in 2014, i got into an argument with a friend of mine as to how many members were in the band - my friend insisting that there had to be “at least three - because just listen”.

Of course we now know that this friend was very wrong and he has lived the last four years in shame and seclusion somewhere in the channel islands.

He wasn’t wrong in the sense that it sure didn’t sound like two dudes making all that noise, but if that debut sounded like a full band, then Royal Blood’s sophomore release How Did We Get So Dark sounds downright orchestral.

I think partial credit could certainly go to producer Tom Dalgety, who along with sole band members Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher created a lush, warm, full sounding record.

But Thatcher and Kerr continue to create hook-laden solid rock that’s at once garage sing-along and stadium anthem rock. Stompers like “Look Like You Know” and “Lights Out” are a solid counter-measure to more nuanced tunes like “Don’t Tell”.

Anyone who had the good fortune to see them open up for Queens of the Stone Age this fall watched them tear shit up. They’re young, they’re hungry and they know how to deliver the goods, live and in the studio.

7.9 / 10 — Kevin Fitzpatrick