How Did We Get So Dark? Explained

How Did We Get So Dark?
Type:	studio
Artist:	Royal Blood
Cover:	Royal-Blood-How-Did-We-Get-So-Dark.jpg
Border:	yes
Recorded:	2016–2017
Studio:	ICP (Brussels) RAK (London)
Genre:	Hard rock
Label:	Warner Bros.
Producer:	Royal Blood Jolyon Thomas Tom Dalgety
Prev Title:	Royal Blood
Prev Year:	2014
Next Title:	Typhoons
Next Year:	2021

How Did We Get So Dark? is the second studio album by British hard rock duo Royal Blood. The album was released by Warner Bros. Records on 16 June 2017.^[1]

The album is considered by most critics to be stylistically similar to the band's breakthrough debut album, with Kerr's bass serving as the music's focal point, but it incorporates more blues and psychedelic influences. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success.

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, attaining a Metacritic aggregate score of 71.

It was elected by Loudwire as the 7th best hard rock album of 2017.^[2]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's booklet.^[3]

Royal Blood

• Mike Kerr – bass, keyboards, vocals, production
• Ben Thatcher – drums, percussion, piano, production

Production

• Tom Dalgety – production, engineering, mixing
• Jolyon Thomas – production, engineering
• Brian Lucey – mastering
• Justin Smith – engineering
• Drew Bang – engineering

Imagery

• Adrian Samson – photography
• Pascal Teixeira – art direction
• Richard Welland – design
• We Three Club – tiger design

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Greek Albums (IFPI)^[4]	19
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[5]	25

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[6]	31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[7]	112
UK Albums (OCC)^[8]	39

External links

• Royal Blood official website
• Dan Hillier official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Childers. Chad. Royal Blood Offer More 'How Did We Get So Dark?' Album Details, Unveil 'Lights Out' Video. Loudwire. Townsquare Media. 20 May 2017. 13 April 2017.
2. Web site: The 25 Hard Rock Albums of 2017. Loudwire. Townsquare Media. 23 September 2022 . 28 November 2017.
3. How Did We Get So Dark?. Royal Blood. Warner Bros.. 2017. booklet. 2-561724.
4. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 30/2017). IFPI Greece. https://web.archive.org/web/20170807024937/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html. 7 August 2017. live. 13 September 2017.
5. Web site: Top 100 Albumes — Semana 25: del 16.06.2017 al 22.06.2017. Productores de Música de España. es. 29 June 2017.
6. Web site: Jaaroverzichten Albums 2017. Ultratop. 21 December 2017.
7. Web site: Rapports Annuels Albums 2017. Ultratop. 21 December 2017.
8. Web site: The Top 40 biggest albums of 2017 on the Official Chart. Official Charts Company. White. Jack. 3 January 2018. 3 January 2018.