How Did We Get So Dark?
by Royal Blood
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Exclaim
    Jun 22, 2017
    60
    Despite how thunderous Thatcher sounds behind the drums or how dirty Kerr's bass tone is, unfortunately there isn't a pedal for more robust and compelling songwriting.
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 19, 2017
    60
    While it starts thrillingly--the title track and Lights Out as good as anything they’ve ever done and reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age at their most imperious--they fail to sustain their momentum, the middle of the album suffering from a surfeit of unremarkable filler.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 19, 2017
    60
    In summary, this is an album which is trying to be lots of things for lots of people. The sadness being that where Royal Blood appealed to so many because of its abandoned musicality and aggression, How Did We Get So Dark? may run the risk of losing its soul and beating heart in order to please the masses.
  5. Uncut
    Jun 14, 2017
    50
    Although there are no gaffes here, neither is there much to mark it out from their first. [Jul 2017, p.36]
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  6. The Guardian
    Jun 15, 2017
    40
    At less than 35 minutes, How Did We Get So Dark? lasts longer than the Ramones’ debut--and indeed Royal Blood’s own-- but this time out they seem worryingly short on new ideas.
  7. The Independent (UK)
    Jun 14, 2017
    40
    They’re still sculpted from the same small portfolio of sounds--basically, buzzing distorted guitar riffs and harmony chants borne along on pummelling drum barrages--which tends to impose too narrow an emotional range on the album. It’s like being hectored loudly by a bore.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Most Discussed Album of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 102 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 102
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 102
  3. Negative: 6 out of 102
  1. Balrogking10ten
    Jul 8, 2017
    1
    I grew up listening to metal in its classic heyday and watched it evolve into what we call alt-metal today. And I know the best bands of thatI grew up listening to metal in its classic heyday and watched it evolve into what we call alt-metal today. And I know the best bands of that genre will never be considered the “lesser sons of greater sires”. But the fact is that Royal Blood proves that true metal may no longer have any relevance. I chose to try to catch up with the current trends when, very recently, I saw this duo on a British live concert cable show; they rocked the crap out of the program and I dug the variation on the 2-man group but with no true guitarist this time. They played “Little Monster” from their debut and it really stuck in my mind. I googled them and read some of their reviews; they were considered the new “it” band in metal. And I saw that their sophomore CD was about to drop. Since together, their total length was about 67 minutes, I bought both. And the promising start to their self-titled initial release (“Out of the Black” is an engaging and unique first track for any album) gave me confidence that metal might be back. Wow, was I wrong! These guys are way overrated and overhyped. I think the duo thing has a lot to do with it. But that band configuration (besides the pedestrian songwriting, inane lyrics, simplistic 80s hairband-like melodies, derivative vocals, etc.) is their biggest weakness. There is a limit to how many songs that contain no real chords a discerning listener can take; you might as well call it “no-chord rock” instead of “3-chord rock”. It gets old really, really fast! And the fact that there is a lot of double and triple tracking that can never be reproduced live by 2 guys is also a travesty. All the songs on both these 2 releases are interchangeable and they are almost all huge disappointments. When you think about the recent crop of new bands and more recent releases in the category of old school and alternative metal, compare them to bands like Tool, SOAD, Deftones, the Melvins, etc.; more recently, Mastodon and…..uh, that’s it. Maybe I have just outgrown old school metal; I still enjoy some of the newer what you could call “hard rock” bands/artists like Black Mountain, Ty Segal, Silversun Pickups, Band of Skulls, Savages, etc. As someone who thought he would never utter such heresy, I hate to say that it might be time to sound the death knell for this genre. It makes this dude feel very, very sad (& very, very old).… Full Review »
  2. meringo
    Jun 19, 2017
    6
    They seem to have become a parody of themselves.

    I LOVED their first album, but this one is just too similar with no stand out tracks. It    They seem to have become a parody of themselves.

    I LOVED their first album, but this one is just too similar with no stand out tracks. It all sounds/feels like one long song reminiscent of the previous album. Although I like the band and can't wait to see them open for QOTSA in the fall, I can't really get behind this sophomore album like I did the first.    … Full Review »
  3. blue-intended
    Feb 13, 2023
    8
    Great followup to a stunning debut. As the first album this one hits hard and consists of catchy grooves and bass lines you wont forget anyGreat followup to a stunning debut. As the first album this one hits hard and consists of catchy grooves and bass lines you wont forget any time soon. Unfortunatley this album sounds just like a continuation of their self titled and leaves a desire for more inspired songwriting at points… Full Review »
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