Royal Southern Brotherhood - HeartSoulBlood

"Royal Southern Brotherhood’s sublime blend of rock, blues, and funk represents a glorious throwback to the golden era of Southern rockers such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers some forty years or so ago…"  — Halesowen News

The Brotherhood are back. Some might say they've never been away. Two years have passed since 2012's self-titled debut album, but the genre-splicing all-star Southerners have barely paused for breath.

There's been the roof-raising world tour, taking in 20-plus countries. There's been the classic Songs From The Road live album. Cyril Neville, Devon Allman and Mike Zito have all found time for critically-acclaimed solo releases, while Yonrico Scott and Charlie Wooton have lent their talents to the hottest artists around.

But heartsoulblood is the main event. The one the band describes as "the record they really wanted to make." This much-anticipated second studio album is set to rubber-stamp Royal Southern Brotherhood's reputation as the boldest creative force in the game, and give an adrenalin-shot to the band's setlist. "When we went into the studio on the first record, we were a bunch of musicians making a record in the studio," says Devon Allman, "On heartsoulblood, we are a BAND."

Heartsoulblood was recorded at Dockside Studios, situated near the banks of croc-infested Vermilion Bayou in Louisiana. This magic facility has coaxed classic albums from such artists as B.B. King and Derek Trucks, as well as providing the backdrop to 2012's self-titled Royal Southern Brotherhood album. The band reunited with producer Jim Gaines who helmed the debut sessions, and hot-shot engineer David Z, and returned to Dockside in December 2013 to bottle the sequel. After two years spent bonding on the road, the spark between the five band members promotes interplay on these tracks that's tighter and more telepathic than ever.

On duelling guitars, Devon and Mike weave stories, butt heads and raise hell, atop the thrilling rhythm bedrock of Charlie's bass and Yonrico's driving beats. Some folks still call Royal Southern Brotherhood a supergroup, and perhaps that tag is inevitable, given Devon and Cyril's backstory with the legendary Allman and Neville Brothers (not to mention Mike, Yonrico and Charlie's solid-gold résumés). But if heartsoulblood proves anything, it's that RSB is not five individuals jostling for supremacy, but a band in the truest sense of the word, united by their desire to give these songs wings.

Side 1

World Blues

Rock And Roll

Groove On

Here It Is

Shoulda Known

Side 2

Callous

Let’s Ride

Trapped

Takes A Village

Love And Peace

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