Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,
sometimes there are albums that have a special aura and atmosphere. They speak for their creator and are a reflection of his thoughts and worldview. One of such albums, which will be released on February 28, is ‘Royal Decree’ by producer King Rooster. As King Rooster himself admits, this is one of his most complete and expressive albums so far. And you know, there is a special reason for that. The concept. ‘Royal Decree’ draws images of human existence and psychological attitude towards the world. All this is revealed in 12 tracks = 12 chapters = 12 stages of human experience. And the first thing I want to draw your attention to is the structure of the album itself: rise, fall, rebirth. Notice that this is an ascent toward perfection through the challenges that life throws at us. And it is also a triple formula containing a deep truth, that true self-improvement is impossible without catastrophe.
The power and control that the main character of the story gains at the peak of his success create an illusion of invulnerability. Seems familiar, right? This is expressed both in ordinary life, in a career, in a video game, in one’s own soul. However, the fall inevitably comes as a necessary part of the process of moving toward perfection. In this sense, the fall is the moment of truth, when controls collapse, and the person remains alone with themselves.
This is exactly what King Rooster talks about in his upcoming album ‘Royal Decree’. I must admit, when I listened to the release, it took me a couple of days to put the concept together, the lyrics and the sound into one text. The thing is, there is a very deep and hidden meaning in ‘Royal Decree’. For example, in the number of tracks and in the concept of the album. Look, pay attention to the fact that ‘Royal Decree’ has 12 tracks. How many months are there in a year? And how many hours are shown on a classic clock face? And yes, of course, how many zodiac signs represent the visible constellations? 12. Always 12. To me, this number stands for the completion of a cycle. In the context of the album, this means that the path from ascent through decline to rebirth is a cycle. Perhaps a return to the beginning, but on a new level of understanding. You come to the same point, but already as a different person. The cycle is completed, and it is exactly its completeness that makes a new turn possible. But let’s move on to the tracks that will help to understand the concept of “Royal Decree.”
The album opens with ‘Conqueror’. It describes the beginning of the story and the one who has just claimed victory, standing at the top, intoxicated by their own power. This moment of pure triumph is captured in the powerful rap, the steady beat, and the sheer, surging energy. It intensifies in ‘Coronation’. Can I say it’s the official acknowledgment of power? Absolutely. The lyrics speak of victory, of the intoxication with authority and control. And oh, those commercial hooks in the melody groove unbelievably. Believe me, when the album drops, you’ll fall in love with ‘ Coronation.’ Something extraordinarily beautiful happens in ‘Born to Rule.’ It’s the peak of power, the intoxication with one’s own uniqueness, something that is, of course, illusory. The lyrics and minimalist arrangement suggest that the figure in the title is convinced that being ‘Born to Rule’ means their power is no accident, that ruling is their destiny and inevitability. It’s the apex of pride, and that’s exactly why I love this track.
Starting from the track ‘Paranoia,’ in the middle of the album, the first layer happens. ‘Paranoia’ is the moment when something starts to go wrong. At first, it is just an anxious feeling. The fear of losing control, the first signs that the system is failing. This is reflected in slower and more melancholic tones and crying keys. Perfect work with structure and theme.
Then in ‘System Error’ this moment intensifies. You know, you get an incredible rush of goosebumps during the intro, I won’t say why, let that be a surprise for you. But the way King Rooster worked with the atmosphere in ‘System Error’ is flawless. Here a system failure occurs, a glitch in the matrix of reality. All plans and methods of control suddenly stop working, and the main character is left helpless in the face of chaos. And right after that comes the moment for ‘Fall.’ The culmination of the downfall. Orchestral hip-hop and cinematic sound take over every moment. That’s why ‘Fall’ feels like a plunge into the abyss. All illusions are shattered, power is lost, control is gone. This is the moment of absolute collapse. But get ready, because it’s right here, at the very bottom, that the third act begins.
The next track, ‘Root to Stem,’ signals rebirth to me. Patient. Slow.
However, the hero has learned a lesson, and now this rebirth is based on something more fundamental than power. You know, on the simple resilience of life that goes on despite everything. The final song, ‘Unwritten in Stone,’ closes the cycle with a deep awareness of the impermanence of all things. Nothing is eternal. Everything is fluid, everything is changeable. This is wisdom bought at the price of catastrophe. The twelfth track closes the circle, yet leaves the ending open. The musician hints that the story may begin again. And you know, that’s something on another level of music.
When a concept this deep emerges through music and albums, it can truly change everything. ‘Royal Decree’ by King Rooster is a release that everyone who values profound sound and a thoughtful approach to music-making must listen to and understand. Be sure to follow King Rooster and mark February 28 on your calendar to witness something truly monumental – the release of ‘Royal Decree.’
Heeey King Rooster! Thank you for creating such deep music. I’m blown away by the genre and the themes in ‘Royal Decree.’ Nothing speaks about the system better than hip-hop and powerful rap. You know, that feeling of struggle and strength comes through in every track and hits incredibly hard. This is huge work, and you can feel how much effort and energy went into making this release. Amazing! I’m definitely going to share your release with everyone so they can hear this awesome sound too. Yeeeeah!
With much love,
Soundville
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