By: Ernesto
Aguilar
Album Type: Full Length
Date
Released:
25/08/2017
Label: Matador
Records
The musicianship
is some of the best out there, and QOTSA knows its lane and sticks with it. Suffice
to say, if you are already a QOTSA fan, chances are this recording will not
disappoint, or may just a little. For others, there is an entirely different
dialogue.
“Villains” CD//DD//LP track listing
1.
Feet Don't Fail Me
2.
The Way You Used to Do
3.
Domesticated Animals
4.
Fortress
5.
Head Like a Haunted House
6.
Un-Reborn Again
7.
Hideaway
8.
The Evil Has Landed
9.
Villains of Circumstance
The Review:
Queens of
the Stone Age is easily in the top-five of metal music's guilty pleasures.
Having arisen as nearly a parody of itself, QOTSA has morphed into alternative
rock and at moments a hard-tinged Megatron. Although the band isn't quite Nickelback
or Ariana
Grande status, Queens is unquestionably on that arena group
level. Such big mainstream recognition inevitably elicits emotions of all kinds
from anyone. Among metal enthusiasts, who are probably among the most
opinionated when it comes to the music they love, judgment can be swift and
harsh. New albums for bands on this tier are sure to get tons of press and
analysis. For the purposes of this review, the central question has to be how
hard Queens of the Stone Age's latest
bangs.
Listening
to "Villians" has to be
done in a particular context. As a body of work, there is little to complain
about. "Feet Don't Fail Me,"
the kickoff track, is played well, with plenty of progressions and a polish to
the production that is simply dazzling. Up next, "The Way You Used to Do" is going to end up on the
public-address system of a minor-league baseball team's seventh inning stretch
somewhere. It's crowd-pleasing and may someday soon get a teenager curious
about the funkier sides of hard and alternative rock to do a little digging. At
the end of the day, gateway bands are a great thing. The music needs
ambassadors, groups who make heavier rock palatable to new audiences. "The Evil Has Landed" is
another one of these songs. The musicianship is some of the best out there, and
QOTSA
knows its lane and sticks with it.
There
is a great deal to appreciate on the group's new release. "Domesticated Animals" rolls like a prizefighter, lithe
and yet muscular with its guitar work. In truth, the overall song selection is
pleasing enough. Metacritic notes "Villains"
scores 80 out of 100 points among nearly 30 reviews. Suffice to say, if you are
already a QOTSA
fan, chances are this recording will not disappoint, or may just a little. For
others, there is an entirely different dialogue.
What is most perplexing about "Villains," in spite of the
bawdy tales and wild storytelling in the lyrics, is just how sterile it all
feels. There are several captivating departures on the release. "Head Like A Haunted House"
walks a weird line being potentially corny and idiosyncratic, and pulls off a
respectable track by the time it is finished. Yet the chances a band with this
big and accepting of a fan base is willing to take seem to be shrinking,
especially if you have observed the group over the years. "Fortress" comes across as a token alternative-rock-radio-slow-song.
So does "Hideaway." No
shots at the performances, which are serviceable on the whole and brilliant at
various turns. Yet streaming and Youtube have completely changed the heavy
music game. There are no shortage of artists willing to push beyond the
expected and unprecedented audience interest in doing just that. By the last
note, it feels simply safe, even a tad empty. And that may be the biggest of
disappointments.
“Villains” is available
now
Band
info: facebook
