Over the years Minneapolis/St. Paul has been home for interesting bands with a diverse set of influences and sounds. Soul Asylum comes to mind, a band who teetered on the edge of Rock and Alternative. ROGUE ROYAL seems to be taking a similar route with their debut “Different Dimension”.
One this is obvious of the band, they’re students of Rock, they don’t shy away from any one particular style and in the process they have created their own. Depending what era of rock you come from, you’re going to hear something you recognize. I grew up a few hours from the Twin Cities so I remember the Alt-leaning bands and the Metal scene that was present there in the 80’s and 90’s. Even though the band doesn’t site influences from the 80’s Hair band movement, they have some similarities at times, mostly due to Clay Deters raspy vocals that has a little “sneer” built in.
While I really, really like this album, I can already hear someone at a major label say the band needs to find their identity. I say this IS their identity, they’re putting out cool songs that range from the Southern Rock influenced “Whisky” to a songs with a more Metal “groove” like “Chains” or “Novocaine” and finally some modern Alt rock with “Disease”.
The most telling track on the album is the first single “Now Or Never” that’s nearly impossible to put in one category other than “Rock”. I applaud them for their diversity, which they seem to revel in themselves. There’s some softer moments, some rather extreme vocals on some songs, and lots of melody and harmony. The represent the modern music fan who does have a pretty wide variety of musical tastes.
Sonically the album is pretty good too, it doesn’t sound like every other album out there. It’s produced more like a Rock record with pretty thick bass, crisp high end and good dimension. I doesn’t sound TOO perfect either, which is actually a compliment, it makes the band so more real and even has a slight “live” feel at times.
So if you’ve been complaining there’s no good rock bands out there anymore, ROGUE ROYAL your support, all the elements on here for something special as this band continues to grow.
Clay Deters – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Mony Ray – Lead Guitar / Vocals
Kyle Rutten – Bass / Vocals
Collin Gibbs – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/rogueroyalofficial
