Championing captivating guitar melodies, The Royston Club creates music that is increasingly rare. The Welsh indie rock band has an innate talent for crafting infectious tunes, producing material reminiscent of The Strokes, which stays with you and integrates into your very being.
Pushing themselves into the forefront of indie music, the Wrexham quartet has seen their debut album, ‘Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars,’ released in 2023, achieve number 16 on the UK Official Album Chart. This feat has been followed by notable milestones in their career, including live performances at significant venues and festivals.
Their latest effort, the second album titled ‘Songs For The Spine,’ follows a similar trajectory. Ambitious, anthemic, and captivating, the ten tracks evolve from the very first listen, igniting something powerful within and commanding attention before settling into the listener's memory. A delight from beginning to end, this collection thrives as the songs come alive.
The stirring opener ‘Shivers’ serves as an intriguing entry point, a genuine surprise leading into the enchanting ‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows.’ Combining catchy melodies, unconventional guitar riffs, and irresistible hooks, it showcases the swift progression the band has made in a relatively short time. Delving into the complexities of love and uncertainty, the track carries an emotional weight and broad appeal.
The group's ambition is clearly apparent throughout the album. Another standout is ‘Cariad,’ an enticing and grand piece that possesses a spine-tingling essence, reminiscent of Radiohead's magic.
Singer Tom Faithful has rarely sounded better. His clear vocal presence delivers the notes with effortless precision, perfectly suited for the music.
The Royston Club is undeniably a powerful force, and ‘Songs For The Spine’ represents a significant leap forward for a band that was already doing quite well. The vibrant energy of this album is truly exhilarating and precisely what is needed at this moment.
It seems nothing can hold back these four musicians from stepping into larger venues; the future looks promising, as the sky should be the limit for this band.
8/10
Words: Susan Hansen
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A strong debut album that targets both dive bars and festival grounds.
Championing captivating guitar sounds, The Royston Club creates music that has become increasingly uncommon. They possess a melodic talent for