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Royal Blood Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 148 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British rock duo of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher was produced with Tom Dalgety.
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Top Track

Figure It Out
Nothing here to see Just a kid like me Trying to cuss and see Trying to figure it out Nothing better to do When I'm stuck on you And still I'm... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Kerrang!
    Sep 16, 2014
    100
    At it's best, it's a thing of beauty. But if the duo's choruses set the gold standard, it's the riffs that are worth their weight in platinum. [23 Aug 2014, p.54]
  2. Aug 26, 2014
    90
    A tight bind of rhythm and noise, of chugging menace and sudden spikes.
  3. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    90
    It never lags. [Sep 2014, p.95]
  4. 80
    There's light, shade and careful nuance throughout.
  5. Aug 21, 2014
    80
    Even with a debut album, their ascent has been so steep the opening salvo feels like a premature greatest hits.
  6. Sep 23, 2014
    70
    There’s heft and muscle to these songs (or, yes, “song”) and the album is a good taster for what these guys must sound like live.
  7. Sep 16, 2014
    56
    It’s the pro-forma songwriting that transpires between those brontosaurus blasts that ultimately proves problematic. By using their muscular might to prop up otherwise featherweight tunes, Royal Blood have effectively built themselves a castle and furnished it with IKEA.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. Nov 24, 2014
    10
    few complaints about this band, solid drummer, solid guitarist = entertaining music
    one thing is that their songs are relatively short and
    few complaints about this band, solid drummer, solid guitarist = entertaining music
    one thing is that their songs are relatively short and there are only 10 of them, about 40 mins of music which is a little short of the average
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  2. Mar 7, 2018
    10
    Royal Blood are the best modern hard rock band out there, the entire album is perfection, one of the best rock albums of the 2010's
  3. Nov 24, 2014
    9
    After a tough year of listening to songs about butts this was exactly what our ears needed. Let's just go back to some raw rock with amazingAfter a tough year of listening to songs about butts this was exactly what our ears needed. Let's just go back to some raw rock with amazing bluesy feeling. The bass riffs are outstanding and are have amazing sound and feeling. I was amazed that a bass could be such an original substitute for a lead guitar.

    Overall, this gem proves that rock has in fact not died. It gives us something fresh, because it gets rid of the bland-sounding indie rock bands that watered down the general sound of rock music. The duo is basically giving a big middle finger to goody-goody indie/hipster bands such as Imagine Dragons, fun. and Bastille.

    A solid album and an instant classic.
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  4. Oct 22, 2014
    8
    It's not always easy to pull it off when there's only two members of the band, but Royal Blood do just that on their self-titled debut. WhatIt's not always easy to pull it off when there's only two members of the band, but Royal Blood do just that on their self-titled debut. What makes the album unique is the fact that there isn't actually a guitar present. Never has a bass guitar sounded so much like a guitar through the use of just effects pedals. The songs themselves opt for big choruses, which is never a bad thing when you're writing an album, and is perhaps the reason they've become so popular so quickly. I was lucky enough to see Royal Blood at Reading Festival this year and they didn't disappoint. Unfortunately though, their current tour sold out in minutes and I was one of the unlucky ones. Definitely recommend this album (Personal favourites: Come on Over, Little Monster, Careless) Expand
  5. May 22, 2015
    8
    Using a bass guitar and drums, two-piece rock band Royal Blood have created a deceptively simplistic debut album, filled with menace and grit.Using a bass guitar and drums, two-piece rock band Royal Blood have created a deceptively simplistic debut album, filled with menace and grit. I can't wait to hear their next album. This is a great first step. Expand
  6. Apr 20, 2016
    8
    For a mainstream rock band, Royal Blood carry a surprisingly refreshingly authentic blues-influenced sound, making them stand out from otherFor a mainstream rock band, Royal Blood carry a surprisingly refreshingly authentic blues-influenced sound, making them stand out from other mainstream pop bands that pass as "rock" these days, *cough* Imagine Dragons *cough* (seriously, this two man act creates far more noise than Imagine Dragons can pull off with four men)

    The songs are infectious, immediate and hard-hitting. The only real gripe I have with this album is that it isn't longer, with more adventurous songs. The immediacy is more than welcome, but a nice break away from this on one or two tracks would have been nice, and having seen them live, I know they are perfectly capable. Maybe next time around, eh?

    But, if you need something to restore your faith in the future of mainstream rock, this might just be the medicine you're looking for.
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  7. Sep 16, 2014
    3
    This is what happens when you strip music of any personality, any real sentiment. You get music which is purely aesthetics for aestheticsThis is what happens when you strip music of any personality, any real sentiment. You get music which is purely aesthetics for aesthetics sake. Mannequin music. Something to hang your old studded leather jacket on. If hearing rock guitar riffs to placate your sense of nostalgia is all you hope to gain from music, this is perfect. The musical equivalent of a getty images stock photograph. Its a pointless exercise. The fact that it got a mercury nomination is astounding.

    Its top 40 pop for people who don't feel comfortable listening to top 40 pop.

    If all it takes for you to be excited about new music is the simple, decades old distorted riff, then you're probably not much into music. Don't bother with this, you might as well listen to the albums that Royal Blood listen too.
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See all 25 User Reviews