Royal Blood the rock duo formed by Englishmen Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher , continues to conquer and expand its empire through its innovative sound, which has earned the group a place in the world's top lineups, and even the "Best British Group" award at the prestigious BRIT Awards in 2015. They continue their plan for world domination with their third studio album, coming soon. Wikimetal spoke with drummer Ben to learn more about the past, present, and future of this new phase of the band.
The flagship track for the band's new phase, which will follow the acclaimed albums Royal Blood (2014) and How Did We Get So Dark (2017), is "Trouble's Coming," the first song written by the duo for the new album, and which helped the band find the right sound for the project, according to the drummer.
The song has an intense and energetic sound, but with dark compositions that address anxiety. "The song is about being in your own head and making bad decisions, knowing that problems will arise if you make those decisions," says Ben. "But it's also about that repetition, going through the same things and kind of being stuck in a limbo that feels like you'll never get out of, that will never end."
“Trouble's Coming” also marks a new sound for the group, with eighties touches and references to French house music like Daft Punk and Justice , genres that the duo have been fans of since their youth, but never had the opportunity to incorporate into Royal Blood's sound until now. “We're a rock band, and it's just the two of us on drums and bass, we didn't have the keyboards and dance beats like they did. So doing this is like going back to our roots, in a way.”
“We’ve done so much of what we already wanted to do, and we can’t do everything at once, in a way. Since the first album, we’ve added more things to the second, and even more now to the third. I think if you don’t progress with your music, you don’t grow,” Ben adds.
The nostalgic beat and tension of the track are reinforced through the music video, which is chaotic and intentionally confusing, even for the drummer himself. “Do you know what’s happening in the video? I have no idea! [laughs],” he questions. “I think it’s about being in your own head. Mike doesn’t know if he’s killing himself, or if I’m the one catching him, or who knows? But I also think it’s meant to make you think and create your own narrative.”
Check out “Trouble's Coming”, the new single and music video from Royal Blood.
Scheduled for release in the first half of 2021, Royal Blood's third album has many new features for fans, but also maintains the essence of the sound that put the duo on the map. “There are things that remain the same because it's still me and Mike making music. So there will still be riffs here and there… the drums are a little different, more direct and straightforward, a little more danceable, but also a little more straight rock AC/DC song , for example. It's a lot of fun for me to play like that.”
The album's creative process was definitely hampered by COVID-19, which, according to Ben, paused the album's recordings, giving the duo time to rethink the tracks recorded up to that point, and also leading to the creation of about five or six new songs that would be included in the project, completely changing its concept.
The pandemic never ceases to disrupt everything and everyone, so a return to the good times of the past is always necessary, and for Thatcher, remembering the band's appearances in Brazil at Rock In Rio in 2015, Lollapalooza , and opening for Pearl Jam in 2018, is a chance to relive memorable moments. “Brazil is a crazy place,” Ben states. “It brings out the best and the worst in us… but we had a lot of fun!” The doors are open for the band's return, and here, we await to follow the duo's next electrifying steps.
