ALBUM REVIEW: Queens of the Stone Age - "Villains"

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 Nickelbackor 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 QOTSAknows 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 QOTSAfan, 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



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