How Did We Get So Dark? cover

Released 9 years ago this October

How Did We Get So Dark?

Royal Blood · 2017

hard rock

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and production but doesn't fully stand out in its genre.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a title track that features heavy guitar riffs and a driving beat, setting a dark tone that persists throughout.
  • Several tracks employ call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the dynamic between the lead vocals and instrumentation.
  • The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, creating a contrast to the earlier high-energy songs and allowing for introspection.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

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Reference: Wikidata