Royal Vendetta are a four piece electronic rock band from Leeds. Formed in 2006 they have since
gathered a tremendous following on the local live circuit. Their recent EP Soothsayer sees the
band exploring numerous contemporary influences, from The Cooper Temple Clause to DJ Shadow.
The title track is the strongest offering of the EP, moving gracefully between menacing down-tempo
moments and a huge Zeppelin-esque riff. The pace of the song quickly builds and Jonathan Banks'
urgent vocals maintain the momentum to the last hair-raising note. 'Soothsayer' recalls the dark
energy and ferocious temperament of Kasabian's début, putting Royal Vendetta on the same ground as
the Leicestershire rockers. The other two tracks revel in the same electric spirit as the title, but
see the band honing different elements of their sound. 'Broken Needles' is a bleak brooding piece
that climaxes in an epic chorus whilst the anthemic 'Cold Light of Day' combines textural
instrumentation with their trademark rousing vocals.
Whilst the music on show here is brash and bold enough to make your grandmother need a sit down, there
feels to be a lack of imagination in pushing forward the boundaries of what this band can do. Despite
the fact that Royal Vendetta can obviously put out good tunes, their influences are painfully obvious.
Although it is perhaps the sound of a band still trying to find their own identity, Soothsayer is still
an exciting ten minutes of rock and roll hedonism.
