Palaye Royale are a name you’ve probably heard recently. The Canadian trio has been making waves, gaining a reputation for their great live shows which will see them support Enter Shikari on their tour early next year. Having recently released their second album Boom Boom Room (Side B); the follow up to Boom Boom Room (Side A) released in 2016, we got stuck in to see just what has gained them such a loyal fanbase.
With opening track Death Dance we’re immediately we met with twangy vocals from Remington Leith. It absolutely oozes in old-school My Chemical Romance, but with a bit more pop-punk thrown in. Lyrically the track touches upon society trying to control everyone’s thoughts into what is right and what isn’t – “I’d rather be dumb than sane” – even if it doesn’t make you look smart. It all gets a bit weird with “we live in an age where sex and horror are Gods,” but are they? It’s a question hard to answer and a track we can’t really get our head, around despite the infectious energy it leaks out. Teenage Heartbreak Queen maintains the upbeat tempo; raw vocals, thrashing drums and riffy guitars lead the track, making it a polished rock effort.
You’ll Be Fine was the first single from the release. We feel like this could soundtrack a haunted carnival with the crazy laughs and edgy rock and roll twists. The dark undertone, when mixed in with Leith’s vocals, produces something a little bit wild and captivating. So far this is the first track where we feel like Palaye Royale are showing just how good they actually can be. Throw in an instrumental section showing off some rowdy guitars and you’ve got a winning combination. The trio has already gained a huge presence globally with a dedicated and loyal fan base which is partially down to them not being afraid to be a little bit, shall we say, out there? Dying In A Hot Tub is admittedly the most confusing track on the release so far. Taking the tempo down a notch to give us some time to breathe again, it sings of concern for a friend and their lifestyle which soon starts effects you, but you can’t stop it from happening. The simple guitar lines allow this to become one of the most emotively powerful tracks on the release and the closest thing we get to a ballad.
Mrs Infamous (My Sweetness) is bolder track all round, hard-hitting, slick and quite to the point. We feel like we’ve switched to another band’s record halfway through and this is in no way a bad thing. Singing of finding a heartthrob who keeps you on your toes, but it soon becomes apparent that whilst you’re vulnerable they’re taking advantage ‘you look at me like you just don’t really care’. It’s a little chaotic but at the same time, you can just feel how desperate they are to love someone regardless of the consequences. We’ve probably all been there once in our lives. The jazzy piano chords of Hospital Beds makes us a little bit confused about this track. It sounds like nothing we’ve heard so far on the release with a real upbeat melody which is quite overpowering especially as there are some vibrant guitars making an appearance.
As we head near the end of the release we hope we’re going to get something new, exciting and fresh to allow us to see what we’ve been missing and should add Palaye Royale to all future playlists. Love The Void feels pretty jolly, despite the heavy lyrical content when someone is destructive but continues day-to-day to repeat the same routine, yet you can’t bring yourself to let them go from your life. It just feels samey, as if we’ve already heard the track earlier on in the album. At this point in the game and during the elusive second album, it’s not convincing us that the hype around Palaye Royale is completely worth it. Closing track The Boom wins all the awards for being the worst placed track on the release. The near instrumental effort has a philosophical narrative layering over it, taken from Alan Watts’ The Dream of Life lecture, preaching of how important it is to spend your life doing what you love. It’s a lovely message but would have fit better in the middle of the release, or maybe at the start as it puts a darker twinge on the tracks ending which is our lasting memory.
Overall this isn’t a bad album, but it’s not memorable and we probably won’t be rushing to listen to it again – sadly it’s just not exciting. Maybe the reason why our hopes were set so high is because they have such hype around them, but it just doesn’t match up to what has been produced. This could just be a blip and their next release may blow us out of the water but for now, we’re just not convinced.
6/10
Standout Track: You’ll Be Fine
For Fans Of: Creeper, My Chemical Romance, The Struts
Written By: Nicola Craig
