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Recommended Tracks<\/strong>: \u201cKiller,\u201d \u201cCalifornia Weather,\u201d \u201cA Thousand Days\u201d Nostalgic. Youthful. Anthemic. Singable. These are just a few words that come to mind whenever I hear a Royals<\/strong><\/a> song. The Southampton pop-punkers know the formula for high-energy, infectious music, whether they are giving us a rockin\u2019 version of Ariana Grande\u2019s \u201cSanta Tell Me<\/a>\u201d or firing us up with projects like their 2021 EP, A Spark to Ignite<\/em><\/a>. Naturally, the band has tweaked their formula with each release, finding new and exciting ways to be royal. Their creativity only gets stronger, and it\u2019s at its strongest on the band\u2019s debut album, High Stakes & Heartaches<\/em>. Here, Royals have stepped up their experimentation, resulting in songs that push them into lofty new territory. With this album, they have never been more ready for such high-stakes and such heartache.<\/p>\n On High Stakes & Heartaches<\/em>, Royals treat us to a new style that shows their creative and adventurous side. There\u2019s \u201cSpinning Out\u201d and \u201cKiller,\u201d<\/a> two of the first singles that Royals released from the album. They give us one of their most confrontational songs with \u201cSpinning Out,\u201d as they call out the injustices and shady operations that are going on in society. And with added screamy vocals from bassist Tom Guildford, they get their message across. With \u201cKiller,\u201d Royals showcase their production skills and their strong attention to detail. It\u2019s a track that mixes their pop-punk roots with sleek and modern elements, providing a cool contrast between old and new. Meanwhile, \u201cBreak Me<\/a>\u201d leans into heavier influences to bring a maturity to the project. Until now, Royals have released songs in major keys, so they took a chance with \u201cBreak Me\u201d by setting it in a minor key. This pays off, as the minor key provides the right amount of vulnerability and emotional depth to the song, which is needed when singing about someone who is \u201claughing as it all burns down.\u201d But for every villain, there is always a hero, and that is the focus on \u201cA Thousand Days<\/a>.\u201d Here, Royals explore an unconditional, devoted type of love. It\u2019s their first fully original acoustic track, allowing their songwriting skills to shine. They give us pure poetry in lines like, \u201cBut I\u2019ll always be here \/ Like the heartbeat in your chest \/ I won\u2019t let you fall just yet \/ I\u2019d spend a thousand days \/ To make a minute feel okay,\u201d making it a winner in any romantic setting.<\/p>\n For those who want to bask in the sounds of classic Royals, the band gives us songs to appease. On \u201cTalk About It,\u201d they tap into an angst, a hurt, and a feistiness that fans have come to recognize in their music. This one is definitely for those who feel like every move they make in a relationship is an issue, so those who relate are more than welcome to sing their hearts out to lines like, \u201cKeep going on and on, you never let things go \/ The last word is all you want \/ You\u2019re the first to let me know that I\u2019m always wrong.\u201d These feelings come through again on \u201cEnd of Us,\u201d which is more of a traditional break-up song. While there\u2019s always a peace in just walking away, it never comes easy. All the while, the big choruses, driving guitars, and challenging lines like, \u201cHow does it feel to be alone? \/ Everyone can see you\u2019re cynical,\u201d scream timeless Royals. It\u2019s a bold song, but that boldness turns to pity and self-reflection on \u201cCan\u2019t Let Go.\u201d The mood is emo and mild, as is usually the case when thinking about an ex. Sometimes, it\u2019s just hard to let go, but it can be done.<\/p>\n There are a lot of fun-loving, feel-good moments on High Stakes & Heartaches<\/em>, adding some bright hues to the album. Royals bring the funk on \u201cFever<\/a>,\u201d using guitar, synth, and the wonderful saxophone stylings of Gabi Rose. You don\u2019t know whether to listen to the lyrics or get lost in the rhythms on this one, but it\u2019s all good\u2014just let that fever burn! The fever heats right up on \u201cGood For Me<\/a>,\u201d which is a nostalgic love song for the early 2000s pop-punk fans. Throughout the song, and with vocals from Sammy Clifford, Royals play out an emo love fantasy, complete with lines like, \u201cI\u2019ve seen her \u2018round town in that Offspring shirt \/ Know she\u2019s got big plans to travel the world \/ Pale skin, tattoos, oh they\u2019re driving me mad \/ Gotta find a way to tell her that I want her bad.\u201d And when the time is right, a \u201cGetaway<\/a>\u201d might be necessary, which Royals tell us on this anthemic song. It has an optimistic, can-do kind of spirit, bringing the concept of a \u201cgetaway\u201d to the forefront. If you want to \u201cleave this town behind\u201d and are busy \u201csearching for direction,\u201d get out there and find something new. But, if you wish to go back in time, \u201cCalifornia Weather\u201d will enable you to do so. It\u2019s natural to miss a younger version of yourself, so Royals made this as a love song to their youth. It\u2019s filled with desire, which only amplifies with the glitchy vocals, synth, skittering beats, and club energy. It serves as a kind of oasis as well, a place where all those \u201clate night long drives\u201d end up.<\/p>\n At this point, it\u2019s obvious that High Stakes & Heartaches<\/em> is Royals at the next level of their game. They make this clear for fans by placing songs at the beginning and end of the album that capture where they are now. On \u201cAll In,\u201d the opening track, Royals tells us, \u201cNothing\u2019s gonna stop us now \/ Because it\u2019s our time \/ We\u2019ll never fade into the crowd.\u201d It really sets the tone for this new era, and it invites everyone along for the ride. Meanwhile, \u201cSombre Song,\u201d which closes the album, cements Royals\u2019 celebratory and defiant attitude. It is a great complement to \u201cAll In,\u201d with lines like, \u201cWe don\u2019t need a suit or a sombre song \/ This is right where we belong.\u201d With that, Royals are here to stay, and they don\u2019t want anyone to convince them otherwise.<\/p>\n
Artists You Might Like<\/strong>: blink-182, All Time Low, As It Is<\/p>\n