Russell HughesGrande Royale – Breaking News (The Sign Records)
Genre: Rock ‘n Roll
What is it about Swedish rock music that can’t let go of the past? Is it something in the water? Is it their position on the globe? Will anyone ever really know?
Whatever it is, the country has pumped out bands that bear a signature old school rock ‘n roll sound for years and Grande Royale show no sign of breaking with tradition.
Breaking News was produced by The Hellacopters frontman Nicke Andersson and that influence is evident the whole way through the album.
Inspired by Andersson’s insistence that every song needs a hook and repeated listens of legend Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Swede’s third album doesn’t disappoint.
Straight from the first song Know It All, Grande Royale set their stall out for the type of high energy, clean guitar rock that can be listened to anywhere.
Despite the southern rock influence during recording, it takes until the fifth song of the album before a different direction is introduced with Live With Your Lie that has a slight Kid Rock All Summer Long vibe to it.
Daily Illustration slows things down even further, and in that wonderful way that only guitar driven rock bands can accomplish, still maintains a big noise.
As always with this type of album, there isn’t much that strays off the beaten path – but honestly does that really matter that much? Grande Royale have done what they do best and written an album for old rockers and new. It might not be complicated, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 8/10 Kings of rock ‘n roll
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