When you love a band, and we mean LURVE a band, it can be hard to take when they move on and you don’t.
Some of the die-hard crew, those that will swear blind that they’ve been there since the beginning have accused Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher of selling out. They feel let down by the bands embracing of a more eclectic and electronic template.
Well, more fool them.
Typhoons is the Royal Blood signature sound (that being dirty bass and taut AF drums) welded to a sometimes disco groove. The results, for this reviewer at least, are full-on, open the windows and turn the dial ALL THE WAY UP while hollering the lyrics to everyone and no-one in particular.
It’s nearly summer and people need something to look forward to.
True, those hoping for another Out Of The Black or Little Monster may be a little sulky, but the riffage on display here is up there with their best work AND you can shake your booty to it.
Taking a liberal sprinkle of Daft Punk, Justice, Goldfrapp and Cassius, Typhoons track listing straddle Zeppelin and Nile Rodgers territory, Royal Blood are gagging to get back to performing live in front of an audience, Who Needs Friends offers a little more vulnerability than has been on show before and the album as a whole is much more of a personal and relatable piece than previous.
Take the title tracks’s swirling sonics and the sleazy, sweaty sludge of Trouble’s Coming (a staple of the FIFA 21 OST) and at first listen you’re there for the CHOON and it’s only later when you realise just what Kerr is trying to tell you.
There are departures from the regular fare, the album’s closer All We Have Is Now features piano heavily, but who are we kidding, we want the tracks that wake us up with a jolt.
Boliermaker, you know, the Josh Homme of QOTSA one has been in the live set for a while now (den A was treated to it back in 2019 before all this shit) and is easily the standout cut. Strutting licks mix with lyrics detailing Mike Kerr’s struggle to get and stay sober. It is one of the years best singles.
Trust me.
There also needs to be a mention for the exceptional releases by Birdy (Young Heart), Manchester Orchestra (The Million Masks Of God) and The Coral (Coral Island).
Typhoons is out on Warner, this Friday 30 April.
