"CVI" is the debut full-length studio album by US hard/stoner rock act Royal Thunder. The album was released through Relapse Records in May 2012. The band released the "Royal Thunder" EP in 2009, which Relapse Records/Seaon of Mist picked up for a re-release in November 2010. The EP showed great promise and especially lead vocalist Mlny Parsonz stood out with her strong and badass raw vocal performance. The instrumental part of the music wasn´t completely up to par with the strong vocals though, but that has certainly been changed on "CVI".
The music on the album is female led hard/stoner rock. The band´s music isn´t easy to tag, as it might be hard/stoner rock at it´s core but it also steps out of those genres a couple of times, which is great for the variation. It´s especially structurally the band challenge their listeners. The tried and true vers/chorus formula might be the basis, but there are several excursions into other structural territories on the album (an intro here and a section there). The longivity of the album is thereby secured. This is not an album you listen to once and imidiately grasp and all for the better if you ask me. When that is said it´s still the raw and positively badass vocals by Mlny Parsonz that runs the show. What a fantastic vocalist she is. There are many facets to her singing and the details provided by backing vocals/choirs are also quite impressive. The rest of the band are well playing too. I had a slight complaint about the simplistic drumming on the EP, but I have no complaints this time around. I don´t think much has necessarily changed but it just works better this time.