Royal Blood is flowing in the U.K., where the British rock duo is favorite for the chart crown with Back to the Water Below (via Warner Records).
Comprising Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, Royal Blood takes a solid advantage into the second half of the week. According to the Official Charts Company, Back to the Water Below is currently outselling its nearest rival, The 1975’s self-titled LP, by a ratio of more than 2 to 1.
If it stays on course, Back to the Water Below will mark Royal Blood’s fourth consecutive leader, a streak that dates back to, and includes, their eponymously titled debut from 2014.
The 1975 (Dirty Hit/Polydor) blasts to No. 2 on the midweek tally thanks to a multi-format reissue, timing to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The album originally debuted at No. 1 following its release in 2013, triggering the British band’s own streak of five consecutive No. 1 studio albums.
A midweek podium place is snagged by Everything Is Alive (Dead Oceans), the fifth album from veteran British shoegaze exponents Slowdive. It’s new at No. 3 on the Official Chart Update, and is set to give the Reading-raised band their first appearance in the U.K. top 10. Slowdive has cracked the top 40 on two occasions, with 1991’s Just for a Day (No. 32) and their 2017 comeback effort, Slowdive (No. 17).
Meanwhile, Sigur Rós’s latest release Atta (BMG) is on track for a No. 4 debut, for what would be the Icelandic act’s fourth top 10 appearance on the national tally.
Further down the chart blast, Jethro Tull’s 14th studio album The Broadsword and the Beast (Parlophone) is poised for a return at No. 6, thanks to its 40th anniversary reissue. The album peaked at No. 27 after its original release back in 1982.
Also eyeing a top 10 berth is Rivers of Heresy (Roadrunner), the first album from Empire State Bastard, a collaboration of Biffy Clyro vocalist Simon Neal and former Oceansize frontman Mike Vennart. It’s new at No. 7 on the midweek chart.
Finally, veteran Scottish pop band Deacon Blue could bag a seventh top 10 album with All The 45s: The Very Best of Deacon Blue (Cooking Vinyl). The career retrospective is set to drop in at No. 8, just in time for Deacon Blue’s new U.K. tour.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, Sept. 8.