Review Summary: The waves don’t give up so easily
It’s been six years since Royal Thunder released WICK, but their fourth full-length doesn’t have the air of a triumphant comeback. On the contrary, Rebuilding the Mountain is a very pensive listen indicative of the uncertainties and lineup instability that the band went through in that time. The album’s forty-minute runtime, the shortest since their 2010 EP by a noticeable margin, makes it feel like they’re cautiously poking their heads out to make sure the coast is clear after a raging tempest.
This attitude also shows in the music itself with the band’s psych-blues rock style at its most restrained. The individual songs may be shorter than those on previous albums, but the executions feel more methodical with greater emphasis placed on gentler swirls and contemplative builds. The screaming matches have long since subsided and the crying has calmed down to quiet sniffles that are shaken by the periodic aftershock.
While this leads to less bombastic performances, the musicianship retains its chemistry. The vocals in particular come off somewhat restrained, not exerting as much grit but the emotional wails are as magnetic as ever and one can still pick up some barbs in the lyrics. The guitars end up doing some heavy lifting, conveying the ebb and flow of moods with atmospheric chords and watery cascades injected with a little heaviness. The drums also step up with more hustling beats and the subtle organs sprinkled throughout are a nice touch.
However, this less climactic presentation also comes with less striking songs. The structures flow well but come off muddled at times when the hooks aren’t as in your face as before. I like the gradual way that “Drag Me” kicks off and “The Knife” and “Now Here - No Where” follow it up with more assertive stomps. I also appreciate the bass-driven “My Ten” and “The King” breaking things up in upbeat fashion and “Fade” stands out in channeling that old catharsis.
With WICK having become my most-played album in the last decade, I must admit to having had some trepidation with Rebuilding the Mountain. It’s a good effort when taken on its own merits, maintaining Royal Thunder’s unique sound in a pulled back context, but the more downplayed emotions and less memorable songwriting can be a hurdle. The shadows of past efforts hang over this one but there’s solace in knowing that those albums were growers just like this one will likely prove to be. All the same, Royal Thunder remains a band worth rooting for and it’s great to have them back at it.
