Album Review: The Royston Club – Songs For The Spine
With Songs For The Spine, Wrexham’s own The Royston Club take their sharp-edged indie roots and stretch them into something bolder, richer, and far more expansive.
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LILY KATE
8/8/20252 min read
Via The Royston Club
The Royston Club are back, and they’re not messing around. Songs For The Spine is only their second album, but it already feels like the work of a band that knows exactly who they are and where they’re heading.
Right from opener Shivers, they set a mood — dark, romantic, and euphoric in a way that brings The Cure to mind. The Patch Where Nothing Grows hits hard and has quickly become a fan favourite, while Crowbar blends a disco beat with a quiet sadness, balancing energy and melancholy in a way that feels fresh. Cariad is very heartfelt and a nice break through the album, a genuine love song without overcomplicating things.
The album has its ups and downs. Glued to the Bed feels like the low point — a bit too slow and repetitive to really grab you, but then 30/20 picks things back up with a punchier, more focused energy that feels like a reset. Spinning keeps that momentum going, swirling with a catchy rhythm that sticks in your head. Through the Cracks offers some nice emotional depth, showing off the band’s ability to get personal without losing the drive. And Curses & Spit stands out as one of the most nostalgic tracks on the record — it kicks off raw and gritty with some really original guitar work, setting a mood that feels both fresh and familiar. The closer, The Ballad of Glen Campbell, is grand and cinematic, wrapping up the record with a sense of finality that sticks with you.
The Royston Club clearly invested their whole selves into Songs For The Spine. As they put it, “We poured ourselves into this album, letting it consume our lives for a year. It’s an album full of emotion, forged through the bond between us boys and the love we have for the music we make.” That dedication shines through every track, giving the album a raw, heartfelt quality.
Songs For The Spine is urgent, packed with feeling, and not shy about trying new things — basically, these guys are shouting, “We’re not going anywhere anytime soon!”
Listen to Songs For The Spine: