Royal Blood are back with new album Typhoons. It marks a soft reset for the duo, using their third record to showcase a new sound that promises to shake things up and bring something different to our ears. After witnessing Mike Kerr’s relationship with Josh Homme blossom in ways I can only dream, this has become one of my hotly anticipated records of the year. And it succeeds in so many ways.
How Did We Get So Dark? was a good record but felt like it retraced a lot of the steps made on Royal Blood. However, while the foundations of Royal Blood’s sound remain, Typhoons has a keen desire to make you dance. There’s a serious embrace of the hips made throughout, and it really adds some flair to their tried and tested sound.
Lead single ‘Trouble’s Coming’ introduces you to these changes wonderfully. Delivering a stomping riff that struts its way across the dancefloor, before launching into a chorus that utilises an effective vocal that sinks right into the mind. We’re also treated to subtle inclusions of synthesiser which shows off how much freedom there is to explore previously unknown territories.
‘Oblivion’ pairs heavy hitting riffage with backing vocals that sound straight out of the 70s, smoothing the edges to maintain that focus on the hips. ‘Limbo’ also leans heavily on the synthesiser to expand its sound. Swirling into a psychedelic breakdown that sounds straight out of the desert. The scuzzy riffs of ‘Who Needs Friends’ also falls into a detour towards a piano-driven section that sounds other-worldly. These ideas would’ve seemed crazy to hear on a Royal Blood record. Here they’re given the ability to show their stuff, and it really works.
‘Million and One’ and ‘Either You Want It’ act as solid album tracks that further the exploration into uncharted territory, but it’s ‘Boilermaker’ that really needs to be highlighted. Produced by Josh Homme and features a cameo of harmony from him, it’s the jewel in an already glittering record. The riff is an excellent mix of catchy and filthy. Slipping into every nook and cranny left by the drums, which seem to have just the right amount of lo-fi to give them some real grit. It’s such a great song, and I love how its leftovers spill over into ‘Mad Visions’ too.
As you can guess, I thought Typhoons was an absolute blast. Royal Blood have truly reinvented themselves with this record and given themselves tons of new avenues to head towards for future projects. Their first two records are solid but definitely hit a wall, but this is a different beast altogether. Tons of variety, tons of highlights, certainly an album of the year contender.