royal blood - dead company (2026)
A direct and energetic collection of hard rock compositions that sees Royal Blood returning to the aggressive bass-driven sound of their earlier albums, but without consistently recovering the inspiration that made those records so appealing. Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher concentrate on distorted riffs, powerful drumming and compact arrangements, largely abandoning the electronic experimentation of Typhoons. I appreciate the instrumental energy, the raw production and a few effective songs, particularly "Dead Company", "Ten Over Ten" and "Ride". However, the songwriting is relatively predictable, the melodies rarely stand out, and the limited variation makes several compositions difficult to distinguish. Dead Company is a decent rock album that delivers some immediate enjoyment but offers relatively little beyond the band's established formula.
With Dead Company, Royal Blood return with their fifth studio album, three years after Back to the Water Below. The duo have deliberately simplified their approach, concentrating on the relationship between Kerr's heavily distorted bass and Thatcher's aggressive drumming. I appreciate this decision in principle, particularly because their unusual instrumental configuration remains one of the band's strongest qualities. However, returning to a familiar sound doesn't necessarily produce equally convincing songs. The album frequently recalls their debut without demonstrating the same melodic inspiration or sense of discovery.
The instrumental performances are certainly competent. Kerr continues to produce remarkably heavy guitar-like sounds from his bass, combining distorted riffs and rhythmic patterns with occasional melodic passages. Thatcher's drumming provides the necessary power and precision, giving the music a consistently energetic character. I particularly appreciate the direct interaction between the two musicians, which remains effective despite the relatively limited instrumentation. However, the arrangements rarely introduce anything unexpected, and several songs rely on similar rhythmic patterns and distorted textures.
The opening title track is one of the album's more convincing moments, combining a powerful riff with a relatively immediate melodic structure. I appreciate its aggressive character, although the composition remains firmly within Royal Blood's established musical language. "Ten Over Ten" introduces a faster and more abrasive approach, with energetic drumming and heavy bass distortion. The instrumental performance is enjoyable, but the songwriting is relatively conventional, with a chorus that doesn't quite match the impact of the riff.
"Ride" is probably my favourite composition. Its driving rhythm and more accessible melodic structure provide a better balance between instrumental power and actual songwriting. I particularly appreciate the way the vocal melody interacts with the heavier arrangement, giving the song a more distinctive identity than much of the surrounding material. "Nowhere All Along" also contains an effective groove, while "Tapping Out" explores a more playful boogie-rock direction. Both are enjoyable enough, but neither offers particularly memorable musical ideas.
The album becomes slightly more interesting when the duo moves away from constant aggression. "Take Em All" introduces a darker and more atmospheric approach, creating a welcome contrast with the preceding compositions. I appreciate the more restrained instrumentation, although the song doesn't develop its ideas sufficiently to become a major highlight. The closing "The Closer" also explores a more expansive atmosphere, suggesting possibilities that the band could have developed further. Unfortunately, these moments remain relatively isolated within an album dominated by straightforward riff-driven rock.
The production is appropriate to the musical direction. The bass sounds heavy and aggressive, the drums retain considerable impact, and the arrangements avoid unnecessary complexity. I appreciate the relatively raw character, particularly because it allows the performances to remain central. However, the sonic palette is rather narrow. Similar distorted tones and aggressive rhythmic patterns appear throughout, and the lack of substantial dynamic variation eventually makes the album feel somewhat repetitive.
My main reservation concerns the songwriting. Royal Blood clearly understand how to construct effective riffs, but I don't find the underlying compositions particularly memorable. Several songs depend primarily on their instrumental energy, with vocal melodies and choruses that rarely provide enough personality to distinguish them. I generally appreciate hard rock when memorable songwriting supports the heavier arrangements. Here, the balance frequently moves in the opposite direction, with riffs that are enjoyable in the moment but leave relatively little lasting impression.
The return to the band's earlier musical language is another mixed decision. Typhoons wasn't entirely successful, but its electronic experimentation at least demonstrated an interest in exploring different possibilities. Dead Company feels more conservative, concentrating on familiar sounds and structures without introducing many new ideas. I appreciate the renewed aggression, but the album occasionally resembles a collection of variations on previously established formulas rather than a significant new chapter in the duo's development.
The compact duration is an advantage. At approximately thirty-three minutes, the album doesn't become excessively demanding, and the stronger compositions provide enough energy to maintain a reasonable level of interest. However, brevity also makes the limited songwriting variation more noticeable. With only ten tracks, I would have expected a greater proportion of memorable songs, particularly from musicians who have previously demonstrated their ability to combine powerful riffs with effective hooks.
Nevertheless, there are enjoyable moments. The title track establishes an appealing level of intensity, "Ten Over Ten" delivers considerable instrumental aggression, and "Ride" provides one of the album's more convincing combinations of melody and rhythm. I also appreciate the occasional atmospheric passages, which suggest that Royal Blood could benefit from a more varied musical approach. The performances remain energetic, even when the compositions themselves are relatively ordinary.
Ultimately, Dead Company is a decent but rather unremarkable hard rock album. Its heavy bass riffs, powerful drumming and direct production provide immediate enjoyment, but the predictable songwriting, limited melodic memorability and repetitive arrangements prevent it from becoming particularly rewarding. I appreciate Royal Blood's decision to return to their more aggressive sound, although I would have preferred stronger compositions and a clearer sense of musical development. There is enough instrumental energy to make the album enjoyable, but relatively little that encourages repeated listening or suggests meaningful artistic progression.
64/100
Playing time: 00:32:45
❤️ Favourite track: "Ride"
✚ Powerful bass-driven riffs and energetic drumming, maintaining the distinctive instrumental character of Royal Blood
✚ Direct, relatively raw production and compact arrangements that avoid unnecessary complexity
✚ A few enjoyable compositions, particularly "Ride", "Dead Company" and "Ten Over Ten"
– Predictable songwriting and familiar riffs that offer little development beyond the band's established formula
– Relatively weak melodic hooks and choruses, with few compositions leaving a lasting impression
– Limited instrumental variation and repetitive arrangements reduce the album's personality and replay value
Genre: Hard Rock
Country: UK
Final Verdict: 64% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 390th / 829
Highlight: Ride
Made me think of:
Queens of the Stone Age
Death from Above 1979
Reignwolf
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