IN REVIEW: Royal Thunder - "WICK"

Two years to the day after releasing their breakthrough Crooked Doors, Royal Thunder returns with their third full-length LP (and first for Spinefarm). That previous album saw the group distancing themselves from their doom-laden roots and incorporating more psychedelic, proggy and classic rock tendencies into their sound. The tradition continues on WICK, which finds them pretty much abandoning any stereotypical metal leanings they may have held in the beginning in favour of more of an experimental hard rock approach. The thing is, listening to WICK, it's clear that this is a sound that suits them to a tee.

Vocalist/bassist Mlny Parsons is even more of a powerhouse here than on Crooked Doors, which is nearly unfathomable but absolutely true; her voice was always strong, but here she really turns in a memorable performance, and should rightly be considered one of rock's most powerful voices thanks to her work here. One listen to the emotional pummeling that is Plans tells you all you need to know about Parsons' vocal prowess and, whether she's pushing herself to the limit at the front of the mix or crooning on one of the background's tasteful layers, it's clear that her range and talent are growing.

The other musicians are growing too, and WICK strikes a strong balance over the course of its dozen songs. They ebb and flow through tempos, feelings and styles, sometimes all within the same song. It's a thrilling listen, offering surprises around every bend while staying true to the group's core aesthetic. The songwriting is sharp, the production is on point, and the performances are masterfully executed. Granted, there may not be anything quite as complete a package as previous record's Time Machine, but the quality is evenly distributed across the album; it very rarely lulls or fails to maintain its momentum.

It's difficult to tell exactly where Royal Thunder plan on going from here, but WICK feels like a career-defining benchmark for the band, and this is a band whose last album was seriously in the running for my Album of the Year award two years ago. WICK is a mesmerizing, electrifying and wholly engaging record, one that in my mind firmly cements Royal Thunder's status as one of the most exciting bands to come along this decade.

April 7, 2017 • Spinefarm
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