Back in the day, a third album was often considered a last-chance saloon if your previous two didn’t exactly touch the sides regarding sales. In the case of Royal Tusk, they’re far from a global household name. But three releases in, they are still breathing healthily and have not yet been chewed up and spat out by this unforgiving industry.
Royal Tusk – Altruistic (MNRK Heavy)
Release Date: 23 February 2024
Words: Brian Boyle
The comparisons to Shinedown and Foo Fighters are accurate. The band’s knack for measured arena rock blended with freewheeling aggression made for delightful listening on debut DealBreaker and sophomore release Tusk II.
Altruistic is a bugger to spell, but it’s a wonderfully easy listen and more of what we’ve already got so far. But if it ain’t broke, why the hell fix it? Big angsty tracks like Hated, Here On Out and All My Life stick very much to the formula.
The likeness to Grohl and co shows its teeth early doors on opener Fire In Your Veins, a big brassy rocker that the apparent ‘nicest guy in rock’ would have a ball yelling along to.
While some of the verse work airs on the lacklustre side, the band’s penchant for an explosive chorus sweeps that little flaw under the carpet somewhat. You get this on the supersized hooks of the title track and The Death Of Common Sense, two tunes whose anthemic melody barely lets you up for air.
Closer Something Like The Truth offers you an enjoyable alternative to the decibelic mayhem of the previous tracks, well stacked with sweet and sombre atmospherics, the wonderfully delivered sentimental tones makes this so much more than a song buried at the basement of an album.
Altruistic is a very digestible ten tracks from the Canadian threesome, starved of low points and brimming with high ones, superbly led from the front by vocalist/guitarist Daniel Carriere.
Bands like Royal Tusk are a dime a dozen, but quality like this means they hopefully stay ahead of the chasing pack.
