Royal Blood's Second Album 'How Did We Get So Dark?' To Be Released June 16th

After becoming the biggest breaking British rock band with their self-titled 2014 debut album, Royal Blood's eagerly anticipated second album 'How Did We Get So Dark?' will be released on June 16th on Warner Bros. Records. The album's lead single and video 'Lights Out' is now available.

Royal Blood's breakthrough was huge. Their debut album was the fastest-selling British rock debut in three years, hitting #1 in the UK, debuting in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart in the U.S. and going Top 20 in 12 countries. Before they knew it, they were performing for Howard Stern, touring with Foo Fighters, holding dressing room audiences with Jimmy Page in New York, and being presented with a BRIT for Best British Band in 2015 by the very same guitar god. Their ascendency was further underlined with major awards courtesy of Kerrang!, NME and Q.

The ten tracks that are featured on 'How Did We Get So Dark?' were written in instrumental form during sessions in Brighton, Los Angeles and Nashville. Always trying to explore ways of stripping their enormous sound back to give it more space and impact, inspiration for the lyrics came from events in vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr's life since the band first found huge success.

In November 2016, Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, along with producer Jolyon Thomas, spent six weeks in a studio in Brussels that was decked out like a New York diner and featured a warehouse of antique gear. 'How Did We Get So Dark?' was subsequently completed after a final session in London with their debut album's co-producer Tom Dalgety.

The album's first single 'Lights Out' ups the ante from their debut with a wrecking ball of a groove cemented by Thatcher's thunderous rhythms, while Kerr wrangles the twisted invention of his bass riffs to a whole new level. Their patented two-man artillery of carefully constructed melodic aggression is prevalent throughout, especially in 'I Only Lie When I Love You,' which is a compelling cowbell-assisted reminder of the power of a stop-start riff and a strident chorus. There are times when Royal Blood are more visceral than ever - notably the gargantuan introduction to 'Hook, Line and Sinker' and also the intense denouement that brings 'Look Like You Know' to a close.

While the album finds Royal Blood refining their melodic might, there are other moments that fulfil their aim to create songs that will add new dimensions to their live sets. Adorned with Kerr's falsetto, 'Don't Tell' drops the intensity to mesmerising effect, while 'Where Are You Now?' pulsates with a bounding energy that's quite a step apart from anything else in their catalogue. The Royal Blood palette is also expanded with the inclusion of harmony vocals - something that they didn't use on their debut.

'How Did We Get So Dark?' will be released on digital, CD and vinyl formats. Also available are a super deluxe vinyl set and a cassette. Pre-orders are now open from https://r-oy.al/blood/_website, and all fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant download of 'Lights Out'.

Royal Blood's summer festival touring commences at The Governors Ball in New York City in June and concludes with both legs of Japan's Summer Sonic Festival in August. In the UK, they're confirmed to play Glastonbury and will headline the Eden Sessions on June 22nd.

The tracklisting for 'How Did We Get So Dark?' is:

1. How Did We Get So Dark?

2. Lights Out

3. I Only Lie When I Love You

4. She's Creeping

5. Look Like You Know

6. Where Are You Now?

7. Don't Tell

8. Hook, Line and Sinker

9. Hole In Your Heart

10. Sleep

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