In the past, Australia has given the world some
incredible rock bands. They brought AC/DC into the world with their
impactful rock anthems that changed the face of rock music. Then,
they brought us INXS who ruled the pop-rock world for a decade with
high-energy radio hits. Other successful bands from Australia are Men at
Work, who blended new wave, reggae, and pure rock, as well as the pop-rock and
blues influenced Cold Chisel. Today, The Royales carry on the tradition
of excellent rock music from Australia, with their own blend of musical styles
that makes them unstoppable.
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| The Royales' self-titled EP |
The Royales formed in 2009 in Brisbane, Australia. The band
consists of members Daniel O'Connell (Drums), Steve "Devin"
O'Connell (Guitar), Jacob Davis (Vocals/Synth), and Tom Passaris (Bass).
They released their self-titled debut EP in 2012 and had a successful
touring season that followed. More recently, they have put out the first
single, What I Need, from their forthcoming sophomore EP, Rewind.
Their sound is a unique blend of pop-rock and indie rock, mixed with
a perpetual high energy that pulls the listener into the music and makes
for great radio hits.
A prime example of the overall feeling that is
generated by The Royales comes off of their self-titled debut EP in the form of
Never Look Back. The song starts off with a quick drum fill and
leads directly into the main riff, which has an upbeat quality to it. It
is heard again at key moments in the song with some variation. A constant
and quick drum beat plays on in the background with a high degree of technical
skill by Daniel O'Connell. When the vocals enter the mix, the listener is
pulled further into the music. Jacob Davis' voice has a powerful indie
tone to it, while still remaining relevant in a pop/rock sense. His voice
somehow rises above the instrumentation while also using it to bring the song
to the next level. Under everything, faint hints of
light synth work can be heard, adding yet another layer to the track.
The song exhibits, in my opinion, The Royales at their peak of
performance and leaves the listener with an uplifted spirit.
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| Bassist Tom Passaris Rockin' Out On Stage |
Another excellent song off of 'The Royales' is
the closing track, Keeping Everyday Alive. This song puts out a
different mood than Never Look Back, though it is equally as powerful
and well done. Fast guitar work and thick bass introduce the song, along
with persistent cymbals and drums. The drums become even more
intense and hard-hitting as the track goes on. While the guitar continues
to play various fused licks and riffs, the bass takes on a center-stage
role and adds a tonal quality that is key to this song. Davis' vocals
sound particularly strong and emotional, backed by the heavy, but quick
drumbeat. Overall, the track takes on a darker mood, while still
maintaining the band's characteristic high energy.
On a slightly
different note, the band is scheduled to release their second EP, 'Rewind',
within a matter of weeks. They have released an advance single from that
record, What I Need. The track a steady string of hard drum fills,
as well as new and interesting guitar riffs. As always, the bass
grounds the song under the skilled guitar work and creative use of synths.
The vocals on this song also take on a new life. Their emotional
level is pushed to greater heights, as is their musical expertise. Based
on the single, I think it's a safe bet that the new EP will contain songs that
are more indie/hard rock oriented, while still containing the pop
qualities that pushed The Royales to initial success.
The Royales are a group of individuals who have brought something
new to the musical table. Their pop/rock hits have soared to the
forefront of the genre in their home country and I expect them to soon make a
major breakthrough throughout the international community. You can check
out their awesome music on their SoundCloud page. Be
sure to visit their website as well. Also,
don't forget to head over to their Facebook page.
Thank you for visiting my blog and reading this review. Please feel free to comment on this article about whatever you feel like (suggestions, what you think of the band, etc...). If you would like to contact me for any reason, check out the 'Contact' tab above. Have a nice day and rock on!
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