Romeo Indigo Romeo - Spooky Scary Spooky Scary

Romeo Indigo Romeo - Spooky Scary Spooky Scary

The long-awaited return to the ‘new releases’ column for Belfast rock quartet Romeo Indigo Romeo is a welcome one. On their last release ‘Whiskey’, smoked singing and a slow-mounting guitar assault entranced listeners with its dark swoon, and Romeo look to continue that dark magic on latest release Spooky Scary Spooky Scary.

The opening bar sets the scene, with its slow sweep and bluesy swing painting an open range picture, a posse of banditos under the stars. Vocals croon to life with a rusty grace and syrupy flow, meandering between the gradual electric plucks that dot the landscape. The chorus arrives with a crash as a mini hard rock breakdown lets loose. The lyrics change from smooth to aged and jagged, creating an air of malevolence. This forms the mood of the latter half of the song, which is distinctly harder. The group adopts a growling persona, “I’m better, I’m better than this” they roar, while the ragged, throaty backing vocals giving a fuzzy margin.


The final stanza begins with a slow-burning plucky riff instrumental. As the wick burns, it slowly deconstructs into an avalanche of fiery licks and rockslide kick drum before a last reprisal of the chorus. A welcome return for Romeo Indigo Romeo, whose blend of outlaw groove and stoner rock malice was sorely missed.


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