Royal Blood, the acclaimed rock duo comprising vocalist and bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, offered insights into their forthcoming fifth studio album, ‘Dead Company’, during a recent conversation backstage at Reading Festival 2026. The band, known for their powerful, stripped-down sound, described the new record as “pretty relentless” and “brutal,” suggesting it offers little respite for the listener.
‘Dead Company’: A Relentless Sonic Assault
Mike Kerr elaborated on the album’s intense nature, stating the core concept was to create a record that “never lets off.” He humorously suggested that listeners might find it challenging to reach the end of the album due to its unyielding energy. “It’s pretty brutal. There’s not really any breathing room,” Kerr remarked, highlighting the deliberate construction of each track with live performance in mind. “Every song on the record, we were imagining playing live and making sure that when we play them live together, they felt good.” This focus on translating raw energy to the stage underscores the band’s fundamental motivation: the thrill of live performance.
Ben Thatcher echoed this sentiment, drawing parallels between the new material and the excitement of their debut. “I also think it has the energy of our first record, and the excitement of that,” he explained. However, he emphasized that the band’s four subsequent albums have informed their songwriting process. “We’ve four albums’ experience of writing songs,” Thatcher noted. He also suggested that ‘Dead Company’ reflects a return to a more collaborative and energetic creation process, contrasting it with the environment in which their previous album was made. “This one was us coming back together and playing in a room together, having that energy and that fun. I think it reflects onstage. It’s something that we really wanted to bring to the stage again: that raw, unedited feeling of playing rock music.”
Reflecting on Reading Festival: From Fear to Arrival
The discussion about the new album’s intensity naturally led the duo to reminisce about their early days, particularly their first appearance at Reading Festival in 2014. Kerr recalled the experience with a mixture of trepidation and exhilaration. “Being pretty scared – exactly what we were just talking about,” he said, referring to the inherent intimidation of live performance. He contrasted their current status with their early touring days, where they often played to audiences of around 50 people in 100-capacity rooms.
Their debut at Reading was a stark departure. “We were playing probably 100-capacity rooms on our first or second UK tour,” Kerr remembered. “Reading was just a stop-off in that tour. Some of those shows sold out, but a lot of the time it was like 50 people. So we showed up at the NME stage and it was thousands of people. We’d never really done that before. So it felt like a bit of a baptism of fire.” Despite the overwhelming scale of the event compared to their usual gigs, Kerr maintained a positive recollection: “My memory of it was just having a really good time. It was a very memorable experience, for sure.”
Anticipation Builds for ‘Dead Company’
The band’s appearance at Reading Festival 2026 included a surprise set on the Gallery stage, which drew a substantial crowd. This performance was part of a series of smaller shows designed to prepare for the release of ‘Dead Company’. The album’s lead single, ‘Ten Over Ten’, has already offered a glimpse into its driving sound. The official release date for ‘Dead Company’ is set for November 13.
Kerr emphasized that even these smaller, anticipatory shows carry a significant weight. “These underplays ‘never feel small’,” he stated. “There’s always a level of intimidation to them. I think that’s just playing live by nature. There is that element of excitement because when you play, things can break and go wrong, so that’s big enough for us.” This perspective highlights the band’s commitment to delivering a powerful live experience, regardless of the venue size.
A Return to Raw Rock Energy
The narrative surrounding ‘Dead Company’ suggests a deliberate return to the raw, unadulterated energy that characterized Royal Blood’s early work, now infused with the maturity and experience gained over multiple albums. Thatcher’s comments about recapturing the “raw, unedited feeling of playing rock music” point towards an album that aims to capture the visceral excitement of a live rock show in a studio setting. The duo’s recent performance at Reading Festival served as a potent reminder of their ability to connect with a large audience, a skill honed through years of touring and a deep-seated passion for performing.
As the festival season continues, Royal Blood’s focus remains firmly on the upcoming release of ‘Dead Company’, an album they promise will be a challenging yet rewarding listen, embodying the relentless spirit of rock and roll.
