Royal Blood

Typhoons

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Genre: Disco Rock, Synth Rock.
Released: 30/04/2021
Via Warner Records

Album Review: Royal Blood – Typhoons

Brighton rock duo Royal Blood are back with their highly anticipated album ‘Typhoons’. After the success they have found from both ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ and their self-titled, the band will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of UK Number Ones in the UK Album Charts. Fans have shown just how excited they are and the result of that on their latest single ‘Boilermaker’ already show, with it having over 1.7 million streams on Spotify alone. The excitement for new music from Royal Blood has reached an all-time high so without any further delay, here are my thoughts on the new album.

The thumping drums of the album’s first single ‘Trouble’s Coming’ draws us in. The song swaggers as it bounces along, providing catchy hooks that’ll have you singing along on repeat listenings. Any fans of Royal Bloods previous albums should feel right at home straight away with this track. We are then thrown into ‘Oblivion’, it starts with these eerie off sounding tones, that thankfully fade into the background when Mike Kerr’s bassline kicks in. The song feels big, and is a great listen, although a little off putting to begin with.

Second single, and title track, ‘Typhoons’ follows, starting with Mike’s voice almost used like a fog horn, the song becomes very catchy with a very memorable bass hook, some nice vocal harmonies, and great drumming. Despite it’s upbeat nature lyrically the track is quite dark, talking about how “My thoughts becoming parasites” and discussing using chemicals but realising “They don’t kill the cause, They just numb the pain”.

Talking about fake friends, ‘Who Needs Friends’ kicks off straight away with electric feeling drums that march along. I find the track very boring for about the first minute, but when the chorus kicks in some life finally gets pumped in, feeling very layered and full of energy. As the track goes on more and more layers are added, with pianos, harmonies and more being present at the end. While I don’t hate the track the constant random pings are really off putting, feeling very unnecessary and out of place.

Synthy alternating, 80’s feeling tones introduce us to ‘Million & One’, the track’s bassline feels rich. This tune really feels like the Royal Blood meets Daft Punk influences mentioned in the album’s press release. It’s funky and electric, and just fun to listen to. That’s then followed by the third single ‘Limbo’, which continues the more disco set vibe that the last track introduced, with more synthy sounds. I must admit that this took a good few listens to get along with and I can see it won’t be for everyone. I really like the first bass riff the song provides, the track was a great selection as a single being very catchy and memorable, it has this really indulgent instrumental outro, sounds great and leaves you wanting more.

Unfortunately, ‘Either You Want It’ doesn’t do much to impress, being a very boring three minutes. I find Mike’s vocals on the chorus really obnoxious and the buzzing bassline just drones on and on. Thankfully that’s juxtaposed by fan-favourite and fourth (and final) single ‘Boilermaker’. The song is easily my favourite from the album, it’s full of energy with a good beat that you just can’t help but move along to and it stays interesting throughout.

‘Mad Visions’ and ‘Hold On’ sonically fit together. They have a great beat that keeps the songs progressing forwards. We then get ‘All We Have Is Now’ which has to be one of the most interesting moments on the new album. The song slows the album right down, featuring just Mike and a piano, providing a very nice quiet end to the new album, a true ballad. It’s good to see something so fresh from the band.

It’s good to see Royal Blood trying to change up their formula for this release, they could have easily thrown out just another Royal Blood album, but ‘Typhoons’ continuous electric energy and danceable beats add a nice and refreshing take on the Royal Blood style. I can definitely see some fans not being overly excited by the album’s more synthy nature, but given a few listens I feel this album will easily grow on them. Over time I can see ‘Typhoons’ will become a fan favourite for many.