Royal Blood talks relentless sound on ‘Dead Company’ at Reading
The world of rock music often thrives on raw energy and the thrill of the live performance, and for the Worthing-formed band Royal Blood, this philosophy is baked into the very DNA of their sound. As they prepare to unleash their latest offering, the band is reflecting on the exhilarating, sometimes intimidating, journey of making rock music live.
Recently, the duo caught up with NME backstage at the Reading 2026 festival, discussing their forthcoming fifth album, Dead Company, which was previewed by the single Ten Over Ten. Their conversation delved deep into the experience of performing and the relentless nature of their creative output.
Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher reflected on their debut appearance at the festival back in 2014. That experience felt like a significant milestone. Kerr recalled that while their early UK tours featured smaller crowds, stepping onto the NME stage felt like a baptism of fire—a stark contrast to the intimacy of earlier gigs.
“We’re really happy,” Kerr shared, reflecting on the recent performances. “We’re playing live again after two years of not doing anything, so we’ve had a real road to Reading. We’ve done a bunch of shows and dusted off the cobwebs. Today, it felt like we’d arrived.”
The anticipation for Dead Company stems from a commitment to uncompromising sound. Kerr described the new material as “pretty relentless.” The intention behind the album was to create music that never lets off, a challenge that demands endurance from both the writers and the performers.
This pursuit of sonic intensity is not just about the studio; it’s about the stage. Kerr noted that there is always an element of intimidation when playing live, which he found to be part of the excitement. “There’s always a level of intimidation to them. I think that’s just playing live by nature. There is that element of excitement because when you play, things can break and go wrong, so that’s big enough for us.”
This raw, unedited feeling is what the band aims to bring to the stage. Thatcher echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how the new material captures the raw energy of their first record, while still reflecting the collective experience of having written four albums.
“This one was us coming back together and playing in a room together, having that energy and that fun,” Thatcher explained. “I think it reflects onstage. It’s something that we really wanted to bring to the stage again: that raw, unedited feeling of playing rock music.”
Ultimately, for Royal Blood, the act of playing live remains the most rewarding part of the journey. It is the payoff for their dedication to crafting intensely powerful music, allowing them to channel that brutal energy directly to the audience.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
