Typhoons - Royal Blood: Review
are an English rock duo who first emerged in 2014 with a hard-rocking debut album that turned heads with high energy performances and songwriting. Typhoons is the bands 3rd album in 7 years and they have slowly developed quite a bit of popularity becoming a rock radio staple and receiving a surprising amount of attention given their brand of music.
Review By Lav:
When Royal Blood's self-titled debut album came out in 2014 it sent a jolt through me. I thought their wiry explosive brand of rock was totally intoxicating ad I just couldn't get enough of it. I wasn't quite as impressed by their follow-up album a few years later even though it had some very solid singles. I just didn't see the song having the same intensity that originally made me fall in love with the bands sound. With Royal Blood in the most commercial place of their career I wasn't necessarily expecting them to return to form on this record, but overall I have to say Typhoons is a solid album that does deliver on its commercial potential while also penning a couple very exciting tunes.
I was marginally impressed by the records group of singles, particularly the more recent ones. The title track Typhoons definitely channels some early Black Keys with the bluesy singing on the verses, though it gets a much tighter performance style on the bridge and explosive hook. The back half of the track is particularly exciting and I still find myself enjoying the track every time. Limbo was my favorite single coming into the album and I see it as one of the records best tracks. The hook is repetitive but incredibly catchy and I like the transition between the sweeter melodies on the hook and the much more intense vocals and instrumentation on the verses. It makes the song feel complex and punchy with great results. Boilermaker was the last single and frankly it absolutely rules. It sounds right off the bands debut record with an ear grabbing guitar riff that kicks the song off and an intense hook. This is the exact brand of punchy rock and roll that the band made their name on and they proved that they can still do it well.
There's also a trio of pretty solid highlights among the records deep cuts starting with Oblivion. The track has a super notable groove right from the beginning and the higher octave vocals combine to give it a standout sound. The hook is solid and the song manages to keep me on my toes for a quick two and a half minutes of rocking. Million And One is a track that grew on me with consecutive listens. It's a simple track but delivers solid songwriting that sets up a few memorable moments. I also see it as having some of the most compelling lyrics on the record. While it does unfold a bit slowly it never reaches the point of being boring. Finally there's Hold On on the back of the record a track with a sneaky good hook that I find incredibly catchy. The song is full of instrumental highs and has a vibrant thematic approach that just makes it very noticeable and unique on the album.
Trouble's Coming was the first single the band dropped all the way last year and it doesn't waste any time opening the record off with some chunky riffs and what sounds like some light little key phrases. I don't think the songwriting is necessarily anything to write home about and the hook is pretty average, at the very least it has a unique sound. Either You Want IT has some moments on the verses that I love with cool unconventional refrains and a slightly psychedelic sound. The hook isn't quite as good as it feels like the vocals are super distant in the mix for some reason and it isn't particularly catchy. Ultimately the song is just a mixed bag with some cool moments.
Who Needs Friends starts with some verses that really drag on with the same drab refrain over and over and when paired with the methodical drumming it all gets a little incessant. The hook doesn't really save the song either as it's one of the records breeziest and more forgettable. Mad Visions is one of the more forgettable cuts here despite some memorable sounds on the riffs. The hook and bridge are both incredibly flat and make the entire second half of the song a bit of a chore. All We Have Is Now is a ballad to close the album off and while the ambition of switching it up is admirable, the vocals and songwriting still sound like they were made for a rock rager. This makes the resulting track feel a little undersold despite the fact that the incredibly simple piano comes chained to this loud ripping reverb for some reason. It's an attempt at switching it up for the closer but it goes over pretty poorly.
Typhoons is a bit of a mixed bag but there are more highs than lows and the best elements of the record remind me of exactly why I originally fell in love with the band on their debut. While some of their edge is undoubtedly disappeared in the transition to a more commercial rock sound I still see the merits in what the band is doing. Given how bland and underwhelming the world of contemporary rock music tends to be this has a really solid chance to be one of the better, more easy to digest rock albums of 2021 when all is said and done. 6/10
Album Cover Review By Tyler Judson:
This cover isn't anything special. The colors are nice but the design is bland and leaves something to be desired. The composition seems very heavy on the left side and the empty space in the bottom right just needs to be utilized. Not a fan of this one. 4/10
For more rock check out my review of Death From Above 1979's Is 4 Lovers here
