Coxon, in an interview with Mojo, explained that the sound and direction on the album was a very deliberate stepping back from the pop sound that made the band a leading force in Britpop and that Albarn agreed to the guitarist’s wishes to tap into preferences that he had harboured for some time.

Recalling the period and writing the album, Coxon said, “I decided to write a letter to Damon because I wasn’t confident enough to broach conversations about my needs. It was something like: ‘I’d like to start scaring people again, because at the start, we were into unease, songs like ‘Oily Water’ and ‘Resigned’. Let’s make a bloody row, and have fun.’ I didn’t get much of a reaction, but Damon did give me the steering wheel a little more. I think he was sympathetic, and keen, for everyone to express themselves, and for me to have moments to mess around with noise. I wanted to see what the guitar could do without much intervention from me.”

Speaking about how he felt Blur were painted into a Britpop corner, Coxon added, “we felt forced into this strange Britpop thing, which we had nothing to do with, but I suppose we tried to kill any stink of Britpop from our clothes and move away from our beloved Kinks – though there was still Bowie, because of Damon and [producer] Stephen Street. I think we found our own heavy psychedelia, rather than staying with Toad-of-Toad-Hall psychedelia.”

Despite initial fears by both the band and their label EMI, that the album would alienate their strong fanbase, Blur climbed the UK charts to reach top spot. The album was one of the band’s most successful in their catalogue and remains one of the band’s personal favourites.

We’re both very proud to say our fourth album ‘Back To The Water Below’ is now all yours.

We never imagined we’d make it this far! We’d like to make a point of saying thank you to all our wonderful fans, You’re the fuel to this rocket of ours, thank you for keeping us in orbit. pic.twitter.com/s2zmBg39oi

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) September 1, 2023

The release of Royal Blood back in 2014, announced the guitar and drumming pair of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher onto the garage rock scene and kick started their journey to super- stardom and sold out arena shows. The album, debuting at number one on the UK album charts, went on to chart within the top ten of multiple countries around the world and also grab a Mercury Prize nomination. To give the album its deserved due and celebrate the momentous achievement, Royal Blood are now mulling over the idea of touring the album next year, in time for its 10 year anniversary.

The band have acknowledged there are a few proposals up in the air to mark the milestone, including a complete live album play-through and/or a revisit of the original tour. They’ve even, most assuredly tongue in cheek, suggested a firework display complete with drones and a musical score. The pair have also hinted at a possible stop along the way at 2024’s edition of the Reading and Leeds festival. It is fairly certain that, whatever the band do decide to do, fans will be poised and ready to join the band on what is sure to be an exciting honouring of such a huge landmark for the group.

The duo released their fourth studio effort, Back To The Water Below on the 1st of September, and are once again on course for another number one record in the UK. Speaking about the new album, guitarist Kerr said the intention behind the experimentation with new sounds was to be sure to not over think the process.

We can’t wait to play these songs live for you and hope to see you out there very soon.

Until then, turn it up

Nothing but love

Mike and Ben xhttps://t.co/nkOvkSSIMP pic.twitter.com/5TuE7Q933b

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) September 1, 2023

Kerr said, “when we play together, that’s all that’s required for it to be Royal Blood. If we want to go somewhere new, we just go for it. We were basically always in agreement. We very rarely have disagreements about the songs and if we do, it means it’s wrong and we move on to something else. The chemistry is all you have. That’s the thing you have to cherish and if you push that to one side, it defeats the point of doing this.”

Royal Blood found themselves the unlikely centre of controversy earlier this summer, when their performance at BBC 1’s Big Weekend went viral for the band accusing the crowd of not being into the music and then flipping the finger as they walked off stage at the end of the set. The duo, perhaps understandably, continue to field questions over the matter but the band are happy that their music is once again taking the spotlight- for all the right reasons.

Royal Blood will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland this autumn. Tickets can be purchased here.

Royal Blood Tour:

20/10/2023 – O2 Apollo – Manchester
21/10 – Usher Hall – Edinburgh
22/10 – Stockton Globe – Stockton-on-tees
24/10 – Eventim Apollo – London
25/10 – Liverpool University Mountford Hall – Liverpool
26/10 – The Halls Wolverhampton – Wolverhampton
27/10 – Portsmouth Guildhall – Portsmouth
29/10 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
30/10 – 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin
31/10 – 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin