(c) 2023 Air Castle Records
- We Rise
- Black Rhino
- Medication
- Goodbye Love Song
- Never
- Full Moon Rising
- Ritalin
- Burn It Down
- Chasing Stars
- Fire Within
- Fight Another Day
- Lead The Way
Neal Middleton--Lead Vocals
Taylor Richards--Guitar
Brian Hennesy--Bass
Jake Smith--Drums, Percussion
Additional Musicians
Shim--Vocals on "Medication"
At long last Royal Bliss has released a new album! It was 2019 when the band released their previous self-titled album, and 2020 when they released the digital only, quasi-Christmas EP, Our Favorite Things , so while I may not have been a decade or anything, for Royal Bliss fans, it has been a long time since we had something new to pop into our CD players!
Of course, the band has been keeping fans somewhat sated with the release of multiple singles over the past couple of years, most of which find their way onto Survival. For example, the full tilt, angst-driven rocker, "Medication", came out in the Covid Summer of 2020. Featuring SHIM, formerly of Sick Puppies, this track garnered national attention for Royal Bliss, charting Top 20 on the Billboard/Mediabase Radio Chart. Doesn't ring a bell? Here...let me help you out...
"Black Rhino" was also previously released in late 2022, also finding some success and charting Top 25 on that same Billboard/Mediabase Radio chart. Definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album, "Black Rhino" springs to life with a catchy guitar riff from Richards and some high-octane drum work from Smith before the gritty, weathered vocals of Middleton work their way into the mix. His edgy snarl on the chorus section is absolutely perfect for the urgency of the track, and the rumbling bass work from Hennesy keeps the song bounding forward, paving the way for Richards to grind away on rhythm guitar. Definitely one of my favorite Royal Bliss tracks of the past few releases. Check it out...
Truly dedicated Royal Bliss fans will also recognize one of my absolute favorite Bliss songs ever, "The Fire Within". No, you won't find it on any of their previous studio efforts, but if you managed to snag the limited run live album, Live @ Rigby Road, from 2017, then you likely heard and fell in love with this song right off the bat. A powerful mid-tempo number, "The Fire Within" really allows Middleton to shine as his vocals soar, especially on the uplifting chorus about making one's way in the world. Interestingly, the band made a studio-version video for this track about a year ago, so obviously they have had this track around for some time and just never found the album to put it on. So glad they included it here!
And, if you've been following the band on Facebook, you also know they have already released the song "Full Moon Rising", as well, and released an official lyric video for this mid-tempo rocker a couple of months ago. Again, an excellent track that packs a wallop on the chorus section, while playing things a bit more sparse on the verse portions of the track, really allowing Middleton room to work his vocal magic. I love the rhythm that Smith uses on this track, simple-but-snappy, and Richards' solo, while not flashy, is soulful and reflective of the rest of the track. This is the type of song that Royal Bliss does best, in my mind, that punchy mid-tempo groove rocker that has a big, sing-along chorus and a catchy hook that makes you swear you have heard the track before...even though you know you haven't. Check it out below...
So enough with the songs you've probably...hopefully...heard, what about the rest? Things get kicked off in fine fashion with album opener, "We Rise", a full-throated rocker that really sets the tone for the record. A slow build, with some fuzzed-up guitars lead the way in, with Smith setting the tempo and Hennesy rumbling right along with him, as Middleton is on a slow burn through the first verse before exploding with the driving chorus section. The second verse has some layered vocals helping Middleton along to the next chorus, followed by a great guitar solo from Richards, who never fails to keep me guessing as to what type of tone he is going to employ. Here he uses a bit of a retro-tuned sound that sets itself apart from the rest of the modern rock track without being a distraction.
"Goodbye Love Song" is one of the greatest kiss-off tracks I've heard in some time! I'm not positive it has been released as an official single, but there is a lyric video to this track, so see what you think...
After "Full Moon Rising" builds the pace back up just a bit, things get fully aggressive again with the punkish "Ritalin" which finds Middleton about as angry as I have ever heard him, especially on the barked verse sections. The chorus has some melodic elements to it, but make no mistake, this is an angry rocker that will threaten to break out in a mosh pit, which I don't know if I have ever seen at a Royal Bliss show. Could be interesting!
"Burn It Down" brings the pace back down a bit, and this is, again, one of those songs that Royal Bliss just does so well. My son told me the other day that this sounds like summer driving music, and I couldn't agree more with his assessment. The whole song is just a smooth, mid-tempo number with some great, layered vocals on the chorus section, and more of the heartfelt work fans are accustomed to hearing Middleton weave through a song. I really hope this is a concert track, because I want to get the full live effect of this song. Love it!
"Chasing Stars" teases at slowing back down just a bit, but Smith has some big, pounding drums that betray those thoughts, and we are treated to yet another soaring mid-tempo rocker that is this band's calling card. Just such great songwriting on display here!
The same can be said of the powerful "Live To Fight Another Day", another potent mid-tempo rocker that features some cool rhythm changes in the drum patterns between verse and chorus, and a guitar solo section that borders on becoming a breakdown of sorts. The backing vocals are used extremely well once again, and the overall feel of this song is uplifting and positive, even though the subject matter sounds like it could be bitter. Live to fight another day; great words to live by in any situation.
The album's closer is a bit of an oddity as far as song structure goes. The tempo is kicked up just a bit, especially on the chorus sections, and there is just something about the tune that sounds quirky yet catchy. I can hear the crowds singing along to the chorus in a live setting, and I can envision the band just going off while performing this hard-hitting song. I can understand why it is at the end of the album, as it doesn't fit pretty much anything else, style-wise, and it feels like it could have come from an earlier album, like Waiting Out The Storm or Chasing The Sun. Don't think for a second that I'm saying something negative here, by the way, as those are two of my favorite, most-played albums of the past 25 years, no question.
I'll be honest, I'm surprised--and also glad--that the band didn't include one of the numerous cover songs they worked up during the pandemic lockdown time they had to spend off the road. While I love the tunes, and maybe they will surface on a covers album all its own at some point, this is a band that is so talented as performers and songwriters that they really don't need to do other people's music.
It is always amazing to me that more people don't know who Royal Bliss is, as this band is simply one of the best rock bands out there today, in my not-so-humble opinion. Great guys to meet, excellent if you get to see them live, and always engaging with their fans on Facebook and other social media, Royal Bliss deserves to be much bigger than the couple of run-ins with fame they have had over the years. Do yourself a favor and seek them out if they come anywhere remotely near you (I'm planning to head to Lincoln, NE in just a few weeks to see them play), and by all means, snag yourself a copy of this killer new album! Survival has something for every fan of the band and something for nearly any type of rock fan. While you're at it, grab a couple of their older albums as well and see what I have been preaching about for nearly a decade now!
Rating: Oh, so crankable! Royal Bliss continues to deliver some of the most powerful, soulful rock n roll on the planet! Crank this to a 9 and prepare to hit repeat...often!
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