RUF

On their sophomore studio effort, blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood sounds like a band that is fully coming into its own. RSB joins members of two of music’s royal families—guitarist/vocalist Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman) and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Cyril Neville of New Orleans’ legendary Neville Brothers—along with award-winning blues guitarist Mike Zito, bassist Charlie Wooten and Derek Trucks Band drummer Yonrico Scott. Produced by Grammy-winner Jim Gaines, HeartSoulBlood hits hard from the get-go with the rockin’ “World Blues,” and keeps the energy flowing throughout. Hands down, the most fun song on the album is “Rock And Roll,” a foot-stomping lesson in musical history with Neville belting the chorus, “Rock and roll is the child of the rhythm and blues.” Allman, Zito and Neville switch-hit on vocals, giving each track a distinctive sound; but Neville’s rich, soulful voice at the helm feels like the best formation. Other standouts include “Callous” and the Zito-written guitar screamer “Ritual.”