So, what to make of this phenomenon? This two-headed beast of bluesy, pummelling riffage and titanic skin bashing. How did these two guys from Worthing/Rustington suddenly become one of the biggest bands in the world? From nowhere to everywhere in such a short space of time, they were struggling to get gigs in the Worthing area, before finding themselves on a bill of an unsigned band night at the very small (100 capacity) Latest Bar in Feb 2013. Four years on they are ubiquitous cover stars and will be third on the bill on the Pyramid Stage at this year’s Glastonbury (just behind Radiohead and The xx). They will also be conducting a global headlining tour, an American tour alongside their main source of inspiration, Queens of the Stone Age, as well as a huge number of festivals worldwide and forthcoming arena tour of the UK. Jimmy Page, for one, is a big fan.

For sure, their debut album captured the imagination. It was very easy to see why. Their muscular rock was both melodic and bombastic. And a little cheesy in places. Songs such as ‘Little Monster’, ’Blood Hands’ and ‘Careless’ imparted super strength riffs, a dark undertow, and loads of Americanisms in that you-done-me-wrong kinda vibe. And the Great British Public lapped it up. They adore Led Zep and Black Sabbath, and had waited far too long for something British to come through that didn’t smell of art, but just pure rock’n’roll. Like the Americans have continued to do since the heyday of 70s hard rock, with acts such as Queen of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and White Stripes. And who better to deliver than two normal (ish) blokes, with trimmed beards, neatish hair and an ordinary, if vaguely menacing bearing.

Could Royal Blood be so brave (or foolhardy) to change direction on this, their second album? Of course not. That would be beyond stupid. They made a pile of money out of that debut. They established the winning formula on Royal Blood, and by golly they are going to stick with it. It is the smart move. Because somehow, despite the limitations of their set up and style, they have managed to squeeze some more of that rock juice into the grooves, while the sleazy, sometimes fucked up romanticism, remains. As does the blockbuster riffing, and the massive beats. It’s there on ‘Lights Out,’ as well as ‘I Only Lie When I Love You’, and ‘Hook Line & Sinker’. But, as to be expected with any band worth their salt, there are subtle changes here and there; the stuttering glam rhythm of ‘Where Are You Now?’, increased use of backing vocals (courtesy of Kerr), the 70s soft-rock organ in ‘Hole In Your Heart’, the low-slung elasticated funk of ‘She’s Creeping’, and the deep and slow growl of ‘Don’t Tell’.

But it’s perhaps on the title track where the future may reside for Royal Blood. More rhythmic than anything they have done before, there’s an element to the driving propulsion of Foo Fighters, as there is on the filthy bass-driven (a la QOTSA) ‘Look Like You Know’.

In much the same way as Jack and Meg explored the outer limits of blues-rock-orientated rock’n’roll, with just a guitar and set of drums, Royal Blood are quickly learning how to explore their limited palette of drums and bass (albeit a bass that is hotwired to sound like both a guitar and a bass). And on this evidence, Ben and Mike are successfully walking that fine line between working that formula that has brought them fame and fortune, and gently prodding the boundaries of their set up, and their seemingly boundless abilities as musicians and writers.
Jeff Hemmings

Website: royalbloodband.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RoyalBloodUK
Twitter: twitter.com/royalblooduk