Royal Blood have released a new track called "Swallow The Bomb", and there is basically no introduction here. The song just starts attacking you.

I mean that positively.

There is no slow build, no dramatic opening and no real warning. It just arrives at full speed, immediately throwing bass, drums and vocals at you. This is fast, loud rock music built around the usual Royal Blood formula, but it still amazes me how much sound these two people can create. Mike Kerr has spent years turning his bass into something that can almost behave like a guitar, bass and synth at the same time, while Ben Thatcher plays drums like somebody has personally offended him.

The drums are probably what grabbed me first. There is this constant forward momentum that barely lets the song breathe. Apparently, that was actually one of the main ideas behind the track. The band have said that Ben started playing a faster beat than they would normally use, and that ended up shaping the direction of their upcoming album *Dead Company*.

That makes complete sense because this feels much less polished than some of their more recent material. There is something slightly ugly about the sound, and again, I mean that in a flattering way. The bass tone is aggressive, the drums are dry and everything feels very physical. It sounds like a band deliberately trying not to clean up all the rough edges.

I have seen quite a few people comparing the track to Queens of the Stone Age, especially some of their earlier music, and I hear it too. There is that same slightly mechanical groove where the riff repeats until it almost becomes hypnotic. Royal Blood obviously approach it from a much more stripped-back setup, though, which leaves everything feeling even more exposed.

Some fans seem very happy that the band are returning to a rougher sound, while others think the riff is perhaps a little too simple. I can understand both sides. Personally, I think the simplicity is part of why it works. There are songs where I want strange chord changes and complicated arrangements, and then there are songs where I just want one ridiculous riff and somebody absolutely destroying a drum kit.

This also feels like one of those tracks that probably makes even more sense live than it does through headphones. I can already imagine the drums becoming completely ridiculous in a room full of people, with the whole thing sounding even more physical when you are standing in front of it.

"Swallow The Bomb" is heavy, direct and not particularly interested in being subtle. If your speakers can handle it, this is probably one to play louder than necessary.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!