Royal Blood-Thanks Seattle...For Killing My Band and My Dreams

FnA Records
2011


Now it is a well known fact that FnA Records has made a name for themselves releasing long lost recordings. There are albums in their collection that make you wonder how someone passed on it the first time around. In fact the last few FnA promos I've listened to left me with feeling that these guys really know their music. With that had I had the pleasure of reviewing this album ahead of time for FnA Records I would have told them to pass. Off hand I can suggest dozens of other bands who would deserve a second chance at stardom. J.J. Merciless' Wicked Witch anyone? To admit your material just wasn't that good would be a breath of fresh air. Instead you blame a whole genre on the lack of your success? Sure, it is well known by now that the birth of grunge did in fact bring about the quick death of hard rock and glam. Bands like Royal Blood would have been flooding the airwaves though if not for the likes of Nirvana and Soundgarden so count your blessings. The big hype machine of course is that these recordings feature a band that consists of world renowned guitarist (and two time Grammy nominee) Alex Masi along with Billboard chart-topping songwriter and bassist Rocky Newton (MSG, Lionheart) and vocalist Eric Golbach (Craig Chaquico, WWE, The Aqua Nets). That alone can't account for what sounds like watered down hard rock that was spoon feed Whitesnake, Kiss and Def Leppard leftovers. With a production that would have raised red flags even 20 years ago (when this was first laid to tape) this albums attempts at inspired rock fall flat. Lifeless and limp Thanks Seattle...is a album that should have stayed buried right where it was. Here's hoping that the next time FnA Records goes scrounging around for long lost rock that they really strike gold and not fool's gold like this album.