British rock duo Royal Blood has revealed details about its fourth studio album, Back to the Water Below, with a release date set for September 8. The news came through a trusted music outlet and was swiftly followed by the premiere of the lead single Mountains at Midnight. A video for the track is available on the band’s official YouTube channel [Consequence].
The upcoming album features ten tracks on the standard edition, with two additional bonus songs on the deluxe vinyl version. In a notable shift for the band, Royal Blood members Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher produced the project entirely in their home studio in Brighton, handling all recording and production themselves without outside producers or engineers [Consequence].
Royal Blood formed in West Sussex in 2011, and their self-titled debut album, released in 2014, is widely regarded as a pivotal record in the rock landscape of the 2010s. A distinctive characteristic of their sound is the absence of a guitar, relying on Kerr’s bass and Thatcher’s drums to drive the music. The duo followed up with How Did We Get So Dark? in 2017 and Typhoons in 2021, continuing to push the boundaries of modern rock and garage-influenced styles [Consequence].
Fans have watched the band evolve over the years, with each new release bringing a blend of high-energy riffs, tight rhythms, and punchy vocal melodies. The approach to Back to the Water Below reflects a more intimate recording process for the duo, inviting listeners to experience a production that mirrors their live dynamics and studio experiments. The single Mountains at Midnight offers a snapshot of the album’s mood, inviting anticipation for the full record later in the year [Consequence].
Royal Blood has remained influential in the contemporary rock scene, inspiring a wave of new bands while maintaining a distinct persona built on raw energy and fearless, minimalist arrangements. The home-studio approach for this album underscores a broader shift among artists toward self-contained creation, enabling tighter control over sound and tempo while capturing a spontaneous, basement-to-stage energy that fans have come to expect from the duo [Consequence].
As the release approaches, listeners can expect a collection that sustains the duo’s characteristic velocity and rugged grooves, balanced by moments that explore melody and atmosphere more deeply. The announcement confirms that Back to the Water Below will arrive with the same commitment to immediacy and impact that has defined Royal Blood since their early breakthroughs, while also signaling a refreshed, self-reliant production ethos that resonates with artists navigating the changing landscape of modern rock [Consequence].