Formed in the UK, 1968 have carved out a loyal following in the stoner and doom underground with their riff-heavy, groove-laden sound. Their 2018 debut Ballads of the Godless set the tone — thick fuzz, sharp playing, and a flair for the psychedelic. They followed it up with the blistering Live in Los Angeles (2019), captured during their first U.S. tour at the Whisky a Go Go, and the gritty full-length Salvation If You Need in 2021. Now, with a new vocalist at the helm, they’ve returned with Royal Bastards, their most aggressive and refined outing yet – a record that doubles down on power, tone, and intent.
Andrew’s vocals are nastier, sharper, and punchier than before — barking, growling, screaming. While Jimi rode the groove, Andrew pushes back against it. He’s got bite. It suits the band’s heavier, more volatile direction. Think early Corrosion of Conformity but gnarlier, with a touch of Red Wizard chaos.
Endless Game sets the tone – a relentless opener where Andrew’s throat-shredding vocals crash against a barrage of riffs. It’s a track built to announce a new era. Jawmelter lives up to its name. Built around a heavy groove that bursts into something Cream-flavoured but far meaner, it’s a vintage tone pushed to the edge.
The doom comes thick on Scorched Earth – slow, tuned low, and unforgiving. It’s a stomper that shows how far the band has leaned into weight and atmosphere. Things stretch out on Softly Spoken, a more cosmic piece with Pink Floyd-esque tones and a clean vocal performance that reveals some surprising depth. And then Merlin closes the record with a bit of magic: a creeping build, flute accents, and a sense of dark ritual. It shouldn’t work, but it does.
Royal Bastards is a step forward. 1968 sounds leaner, tighter, and more deliberate than ever. The lineup change didn’t throw them off – it sharpened their teeth.
Releasedate: 19-06-2025 | Label: No Profit Recordings | Instagram
Tracklist:
01. Standby
02. Endgame
03. Jawmelter
04. Scorched Earth
05. Softly Spoken
06. Bad Trip
07. Tarantula Season
08. Merlin
