Albums to watch

Royal Blood

Royal Blood

Royal Blood

Debut album from the Brighton garage rock duo Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher

ADM rating[?]

6.9

Label
Warner Bros
UK Release date
25/08/2014
US Release date
25/08/2014
  1. 10.0 |   Digital Spy

    Royal Blood is a game changer, and the same tired chorus of voices pontificating about the demise of guitar music can prepare to start mithering about something else: a new wave of bands intent on replicating this fierce twosome
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  2. 9.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    If there’s a low point here it’s hiding pretty damned well
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  3. 9.0 |   FasterLouder

    A stunning debut that stands as a fantastic piece of work, but also speaks volumes about future potential. If anyone tries to tell you rock is dead, hand them this album
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  4. 8.0 |   DIY

    Thumping, sleazy blues, mile high riffs, a mighty crunch that could turn a skeleton to dust; far from reinventing the wheel, Fred Flintstone’s car has been painted with go faster stripes and fitted with nitros
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  5. 8.0 |   NME

    Unconcerned with anything other than how fun the shared language of rock can be, 'Royal Blood' is here to convince everyone in its path that loud is good
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  6. 8.0 |   Q

    Blues-rock duo make a strong bid to be rock’s next big thing. Print edition only

  7. 8.0 |   State

    There’s a fair whiff of adolescence about it all
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  8. 8.0 |   Time Out

    A fast-and-dirty rock ’n’ roll smash-and-grab, with plenty going on under the bonnet. If this is really the future of mainstream rock, things could be a whole lot worse
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  9. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A thrillingly meaty racket. Print edition only

  10. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    This is effective, single-minded and properly head-banging
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  11. 8.0 |   Clash

    A 10-track pedal-to-the-floor sonic assault, wired with hunger and gloss, gleaming with devastating intent and bulging with earworm choruses
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  12. 7.0 |   Beardfood

    It’s good, but not exciting
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  13. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    Overall, Royal Blood is a fun record, even if it doesn’t have a great deal of sonic variation and the outfit seems like an old dog, instead of a new one, in that you really can’t teach it new tricks
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  14. 6.0 |   The FT

    The music packs a genuine punch, the pair downplaying flashy guitar-shredding in favour of concise but heavy riffs and knockout drumming
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  15. 6.0 |   musicOMH

    It may be unsubtle but it sure makes a powerful impact
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  16. 6.0 |   Mojo

    Big rock done on a thrift budget. Print edition only

  17. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    It's heavy and hefty enough to crown them kings of the commercial rock scene, but then, who is going to stand in their way?
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  18. 6.0 |   The Arts Desk

    While this pure power is more than enough to grab the listener’s attention and get the hips moving, the lack of light and shade on Royal Blood could leave the album open to accusations of being a bit one-dimensional
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  19. 6.0 |   The Observer

    A muscular expansion on the sound of their four preceding singles and EP
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  20. 6.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Royal Blood’s debut is an easily digestible, unfortunately thin-sounding, slightly disappointing rock record and an exciting, fresh, invigorating pop record both at the same time
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  21. 5.6 |   Pitchfork

    If this is all it takes to save rock, then it really couldn’t have been hurting that much to begin with
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  22. 4.0 |   The Irish Times

    Fans of stomping nu-blues-by-numbers will no doubt appreciate these songs, but even after multiple listens there’s no shaking the aural apathy
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  23. 2.0 |   God Is In The TV

    Utterly moribund. Royally shite
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Royal Blood: Royal Blood

  • Download full album for just £9.49
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  • 3. Figure It Out £0.99
  • 4. You Can Be So Cruel £0.99
  • 5. Blood Hands £0.99
  • 6. Little Monster £0.99
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