‘SONGS FOR THE SPINE’ THE ROYSTON CLUB REDEFINE INDIE IN BRAND NEW ALBUM
ALBUM REVIEW | THE ROYSTON CLUB – SONGS FOR THE SPINE by Emma Carrington
The Royston Club have found themselves at the centre of controversy in online indie spaces over the last year, with the burning question; will their new album Songs For The Spine be the rebut to the haters? Will it fall flat as just another generic indie album, following the released, reviewed, and forgotten about cycle, until the next “up and coming” band is found. Or will the North Wales quartet – Tom Faithfull, Ben Matthias, Dave Tute and Sam Jones – shift the narrative and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Inhaler or Fontaines D.C., becoming the next hottest thing on the indie scene?
I first discovered The Royston Club as an opener for Miles Kane at Glasgow’s SWG3 in February 2024. It was the day after my birthday and I was excited to see Miles Kane, so I was there two hours before showtime and right at the front barricade. Little did I know that this would be a pivotal moment in The Royston Club’s career as they made their way around the UK, getting their work out and demanding attention to their talent. Immediately I was taken aback by how great they were, but i never really took it any further beyond following their Spotify and Instagram accounts. Their new album, aptly titled Songs For The Spine, may be just the push that The Royston Club needs in order to make their name stand in with the indie greats.
The album’s opening track ‘Shivers‘ sets the tone for how Songs Got The Spine is unlike any other usual indie album. It’s clean, polished and overall very well done. Tom Faithful (vocals and guitar) delivers great vocals on this track, beckoning the listener to keep going track by track. His outstanding performance isn’t limited to just the opener, and an equal high point of the album is the final track, ‘The Ballad of Glen Campbell‘, which ties in themes from the late American musician. Tom has an “indie” energy to him, from his vocals to how he presents himself on stage, all the while still having personality and pride for both his musical skills and Celtic heritage which sets him, and the band as a whole, apart from the crowd.
As the album continues the listener is captured by the poetry that is Ben Matthias songwriting. Matthias has a way with words unlike most modern songwriting and is partially lost to time, this album is wholeheartedly changing the standards of the indie genre. An example of this comes in the track ‘Glued To The Bed’ which explores themes of heartbreak, post breakup and feelings looming over oneself.
The albums 7th track ‘Spinning’ is my personal highlight of the album. It’s a slow and melodramatic acoustic tune that packs a punch whilst also staying deeply emotional and thought provoking. ‘Spinning‘ is the crowning jewel of the record, you cannot deny it’s beauty. It’s such a perfectly placed little treat of a song that you could cry, laugh, or simply listen to in the middle of an album full of cheery sing-a-longs and ballads.
As a whole, this album has so many layers, each being more beautiful and diverse than the last, impossible to truly transcribe my thoughts on. The instrumentals are smooth and clean without feeling shiny or unauthentic. Complimented by the album cover which boasts the vision of a wild bull which does draw upon those themes of authenticity; “wildness” and feeling free. I’d urge you, reader, to go and listen yourself and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
Songs For The Spine is OUT NOW and available to buy and stream HERE.
