Review Summary: Flawed it may be, but The Royal Thousand is a memorable and fun album when all is said and done.
Starting as a side project between guitarist Joshua Travis (ex – The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza) and vocalist Jerry Roush (ex – Of Mice & Men and Sky Eats Airplane), Glass Cloud has now become the main focus for the two. Glass Cloud initially burst onto the metalcore scene with a two song EP and minor touring under their belts. When I first heard the EP I was pleasantly surprised. I had doubts that the creative clash between Jerry Roush and Josh Travis would work out to produce anything less than troubled. The chemistry just didn’t seem like it would be there; with Travis coming from a more technical style of music and Roush coming from a scene where catchy choruses win over and sort of technical ability, I figured Glass Cloud would turn out to be the bastard child of mathcore and post-hardcore. What was given to us though was a different story. The first single released ‘White Flag’ was overwhelmingly catching, while also showcasing Travis’ guitar chops. Sure the lyrics seemed a bit rushed, but that could be forgiven for how well the song was instrumentally. The second single ‘Counting Sheep’ proved to be just as well off.
At this point I’m looking forward to the full-length just to see if the band is capable of providing songs just as good throughout the course of ten tracks. Did The Royal Thousand live up to all the hype and buzz it was generating? Surprisingly, yes. There really isn’t anything too terribly wrong with this album in the slightest. Now before I go into the positives I found with the album, I’ll go ahead and cover the few gripes I did have with it.
For starters, the guitar tone is very inconsistent. Switching between extreme clarity to a muddy mess of sounds, the way Travis utilized his tone leaves a lot to be desired. I found myself trying hard to make out some of the notes that were being played on some songs, specifically ‘If He Dies, He Dies,’ and ‘From May To Now.’
Secondly, the lyrics are very hit or miss. Roush isn’t a particularly bad lyricist, but he definitely isn’t any sort of Chino Moreno either. The biggest issue is the subject matter of the songs. While some songs cover interesting topics, such as that of Greek mythology (i.e. Ivy & Wine), others seem to lose focus on what kind of message they’re even supposed to be conveying at all (i.e. From May To Now).
Onto more positive aspects, the guitar work is phenomenal. Some may criticize Travis for his abundant use of breakdowns, but they are at least kept interesting and contrast well with the more melodic sections. Many times while listening I found myself asking one question… how? There are tapping sections scattered throughout that leave me in complete disbelief as to how one man can come up with such skillful, yet memorable and energetic riffs. ‘Ivy & Wine’ is one particular track where the guitar goes from beating you over the head with an insanely catchy low end riff to a memorable bridge and chorus section without sounding forced or out of place at all. ‘Falling In Style’ also showcases the melodic prowess of Travis. The entire song is one well put together piece where all the instruments and vocals coincide perfectly.
As for the drum and bass, they don’t mess around much either. Drummer Chad Hasty and bassist Travis Skyes both demonstrate their ability to not only keep up with Travis’ insane riffing, but also surpass it at times, particularly in the drum department. Hasty shows off his proficient use in the double bass area, while also coming up with interesting fills that always sound exciting and fresh.
Jerry Roush’s vocal skills are also something to be surprised at. He’s come a long way since his days with Sky Eats Airplane. While he may not be the most diverse of vocalists, he still manages to switch of between harsh and sung vocals rather effortlessly. There are a few moments here and there where his vocal stylization seems a bit awkward and off-putting, but for the majority of the time Roush’s ability as a vocalist shouldn’t be questioned.
Overall The Royal Thousand is an excellent debut for a band that has the potential to go even further as a band. All the right aspects are there. Catchy choruses, excellent instrumental work, and an overall exciting atmosphere that enshrouds the band. It’s by no means a flawless record at all, but where the album takes one misstep, it takes two big leaps forward. If you are a fan of Travis’ and Roush’s previous works then this album will certainly make you happy. Even if you are just a fan of metalcore in general, then give this album a try. It might not be for everyone, but The Royal Thousand delivers where it promises and that’s what makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Vocally: 8.5/10
Lyrically: 7/10
Instrumentally: 9/10
Overall: 8.7/10
