As anticipation for their upcoming third album ‘Typhoons’ reaches fever pitch, Royal Blood today reveal the official studio version of the fan favourite ‘Boilermaker’.
‘Boilermaker’ captured the imagination of fans after Royal Blood performed the song extensively in the summer of 2019, including high profile sets at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. It’s been the topic of speculation ever since, with various live videos emerging on YouTube and numerous discussions on the Royal Blood sub-Reddit. As one fan commented, “I am so excited to hear the studio version, it will absolutely blow my mind I can already tell.”
‘Boilermaker’ was the first song that emerged as Royal Blood’s thoughts turned to making their third record. It’s everything you want from Royal Blood distilled into one ferocious cocktail. Mike Kerr’s bass riff goes in for the kill and doesn’t let go, simple yet immediately unforgettable with the deepest, dirtiest tone imaginable. Meanwhile, Ben Thatcher’s tight, spacious rhythms provide a swaggering and irresistible groove. Its lyrics take the recently teetotal Kerr back to the day of hedonistic drinking as he sings, “Head like a cocktail shaker / Living in a house like an old bodega.”
The song was produced by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and recorded at his vibey Pink Duck studio in Los Angeles. The two bands have previously toured North America together, while Kerr also contributed vocals to ‘Crucifire’, a track from Homme’s Desert Sessions project.
In an interview with Upset, Kerr commented, “I had ‘Boilermaker’ up my sleeve and it felt like a very natural decision to go and cut that track at his studio. Josh is such a strong-willed character. He gave us such confidence in ourselves.”
‘Boilermaker’ is released alongside an official video, which was directed by Liam Lynch (Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age). A tattooed figure emerges from a hasty burial, throws on a leather jacket and multiplies like a zombie as he marches to the song’s pulsating beat. What follows is a striking visual tapestry of twisted rock ‘n’ roll tropes and disconcerting dreamlike imagery, which perfectly complements the song’s ambience.
‘Boilermaker’ is the fourth track to tease ‘Typhoons’. The previous singles – ‘Trouble’s Coming’, the title track and ‘Limbo’ – were all premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record, with the first two also subsequently playlisted at Radio 1. The three songs have already accumulated 40 million streams.
The band’s return has been further heralded with ‘Trouble’s Coming’ hitting #1 on US rock radio (their fourth single to achieve that feat) and achieving the highest US alternative radio chart position of their career to date. It has also provided their biggest moment so far in Canada, where it became their first #1 on the rock chart and remains at #3 after a 24 week run. Royal Blood’s international profile has been further amplified by some high impact playlist covers, including Rock This and NME’s Best New Tracks at Spotify, and Rock Scene at Amazon Music.
All four tracks are provided as instant downloads for fans who pre-order the album here. An array of special formats include a Zoetrope vinyl edition issued by Blood Records, which sold-out all 3000 copies of its one-off pressing in just four hours, and a deluxe vinyl edition which is limited to 8000 copies worldwide and is selling fast.
