Royal Blood announce 4th album ‘Back To The Water Below’ with new single ‘Mountains at Midnight’
The band announce their 4th album amongst the controversy of their Radio 1’s Big Weekend performance.
Photo: Tom Beard
The follow-up to 2021’s Typhoons is said to be their most well-honed effort so far, having been — for the first time — entirely self-produced by the band. This has allowed them to go to new places and make decisions with regard to their style that are truer to who Royal Blood are than ever before and, after Typhoons dance-rock diversion from their typical sound, intrigue is high as to in which ways they’ve managed to reinvent the wheel this time around.
Back To The Water Below promises to have touches of what has brought them along on their journey so far, with influences on some tracks leaning towards the familiar locked-in grooves of Typhoons and its singles as well as its deepest cuts — to a psychedelic alt-rock feel like we hear on its lead single.
The first single from the album, Mountains at Midnight, undoubtedly shows off this alt-rock influence in its best light. The song has great dynamic contrast — the thundering drums powering along, being punctuated by the depth of the layered bass tone from Mike Kerr in the verses — while in the choruses we have a rhythmically compelling, danceable wall-of-sound approach that Typhoons would be proud of.
The song’s verses and bridge feature guitar playing reminiscent of alt rock staples such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Blur and Franz Ferdinand, which spring the song along at a fast pace and steep it further in a 90’s alternative sound paired with the band’s signature flavour, piquing interest in this newest body of work that the band are eager to present.
Back To The Water Below is available for pre-order with release on September 8th, preceded by a Glastonbury slot and a homecoming show at Brighton Beach during the summer, before embarking on a bigger UK tour upon the album's release. Pre-order or presave the album here.