Music

Album of the week: "Villains" by Queens of the Stone Age: Like a visit to your favorite restaurant

25/08/2017 written by Carlotta Henggeler
Queens of the Stone Age took four years to release "Villains". At the producer's desk this time: British DJ Mark Ronson. The result? A tasty album with a few fireworks.

The band

The head, heart and soul of QOTSA is frontman Joshua Homme. The rockers have had a few substitutions in recent years, like a Champions League team whose captain has been the same man since 1996. The red-haired 44-year-old is a veteran of the rock grunge scene; his best buddies include Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, with whom he founded the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures in 2009. The Californian from Palm Springs is sometimes a singer, guitarist, drummer or producer (for example for Arctic Monkeys). He also plays drums for the Eagles of Death Metal. 2015 was a fateful year for EODM, as the band escaped the terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris. Homme was not part of the European tour. The father of three narrowly escaped death once before, when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a knee operation in 2010. Luck in misfortune. A better year followed in 2016: Homme and Iggy Pop teamed up, resulting in the album "Post Pop Depression", one of the best rock albums of recent years. Happiness and misfortune sometimes go hand in hand, as the captain of Queens of the Stone Age knows.

The album

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Josh Homme lets off steam with "Villains" - and it sounds good. Rock energy that gets under your skin.</span>
"Queens of the Stone Age frontman Joshua Homme has christened his seventh music baby "Villains". As a pre-release treat, QOTSA fans were treated to a fun video - after all, they had to wait a whole four years. It is the first complete album since 2013. Why does the rock giant (Homme is 1.93 meters tall) call his work "Rogue"? As a political statement? And against whom? No, fortunately it's not! There are already enough I'll-save-the-world-with-my-songs bands, like Coldplay. Homme explains the title as follows: "It has nothing to do with Trump or that shit. It's just a word that firstly looks fucking good and secondly is a commentary on all three versions of every scenario. Yours, mine and what actually happened. Everyone needs someone or something to blaspheme - the villain - it's always been that way. You can't control that. The only thing you can control is letting go."

The verdict

A cryptic title for a QOTSA record. Listening to it, it quickly becomes clear that Homme has once again remained true to his musical principles. On "Villains" there are rock tones that penetrate deep down to the guts. Just as we know it from the predecessors "Era Vulgaris" or "Like Clockwork". This time, the Californians have brought a new producer on board: British hitmaker Mark Ronson. The wunderkind (Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars) lets the songs retain their DNA, adding a playful touch - but without unnecessary flourishes or gimmicks. It's a lean, athletic album. The result feels like a visit to your favorite restaurant: you know what you're going to get and it's always delicious. And every now and then the star chef surprises you with a special taste experience. Josh Homme and his men do the same. "Villains" is a thoroughly digestible work for the ears.

Recommended tracks

"Feet Don't Fail Me": Lush, captivating QOTSA opener. Immediately absorbs into the ear canals. Makes you want more.
"Fortress": Relaxed rock song, but watch out, it develops into a catchy tune. Homme's voice really comes into its own here.
"Head Like aHounted House": The composition is reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys.
"Un-Reborn Again": A Bowiesque song with string elements.
"The Evil Has Landed": Someone has put the pedal to the metal on this one, it rocks.
"Villains of Circumstance": A song to discover, after listening to it a few times it really sinks in.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
06.11.17, Samsung Hall Zurich
TICKETS

Translated with DeepL