Royal Thunder
Wick
(Spinefarm Records)
I keep hoping Royal Thunder will feel and sound the way they did when I saw them as a trio in Burlington, VT in 2012. I put their records in and wait for the magic….and wait…and wait. Where art thou crusty gruff rock?
On their newest endeavor, Wick, the Atlanta blues rockers go for something beautiful. It’s hard to blame them. Bassist and vocalist Mlny Parsons does indeed have an epic voice, and the band can run patterns quite warmly, but we’re seeing a deep softening within Royal Thunder. Maybe they’re trying to reach a wider audience, or maybe they’re just exploring space for themselves, but make no mistake—the band is systematically creating an atmosphere where there’s more to “think” about—and that doesn’t always make for the most honest of records.
“We Slipped” and “Anchor” feel like the band ran out of ideas and scattered bits where maybe nobody would look. The solo on “Anchor” is especially tired; almost seems like it was positioned there for repetition and sequence alone.
“Plans” is much better. A number that is memorable for its blue-collar arrangement. This is sort of the vision that the contemporary Royal Thunder breaks through the most with. A paired down sound that never really extends away from the simple blues formula that works best. The soul (which is actually where the band unconsciously wants to go) is pure here. You can feel it.
“WICK” is pretty good. Forging the patience that “Plans” succeeds in. The band seems to come alive here: awakened from their slumber. After experiencing a song like “Plans”, you have to wonder where this whole Royal Thunder concept is heading. There’s seems to be a divide. Parson’s voice is almost too big for the band, and I think they feel it. It’s crushing their will to maximize.
Wick, as a record, is highly singular. On “The Well”, the chorus is all emotional walk through the clouds; look at life sort of bubble-gummy. It seems very positioned. The band makes little aggressive jaunts here and there—“we’re still gritty they say”—and perhaps they are, but there’s two stories to Wick: two directions of opposite force. I see a mutiny of happenstance. We’ll see where Royal Thunder pulls from here.
