Garage rock duos are ten-a-penny in 2014, so what makes Royal Blood so different to the posturing pairs attempting to emulate The Black Keys? Not that much, truthfully. The Brighton pair of Mike Kerr (guitar, vocals) and Ben Thatcher (drums) certainly have the slick image and the strident volume down, but their debut album's songs fall short when it comes to memorability. There are squally riffs, beefy riffs, growling riffs and grungey riffs a-plenty, but Kerr's rather ordinary voice is regularly overwhelmed by their muscle and potency. You Can Be So Cruel fares a little better, but even its seductive, midtempo slink recalls Muse at their most docile. Fans of stomping nu-blues-by-numbers will no doubt appreciate these songs, but even after multiple listens there's no shaking the aural apathy. royalbloodband.com

Download: Figure It Out, You Can Be So Cruel