The new Queens of the Stone Age album Villains has leaked, with a thread on the QOTSA Reddit detailing it. The album is set for release on August 25th.
“The Evil Has Landed” has an ethereal Led Zeppelin quality to it, especially Josh Homme’s guitar playing. It definitely brings back memories of Them Crooked Vultures’ lone record.
“Villains of Circumstance” is another highlight, and it continues the melancholy lyrics and music heard on …Like Clockwork‘s ballads. The ‘I’ll be forever yours’ hook though feels very uplifting, and gives the song a feeling of triumphantly rising up out of darkness.
“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” is one of the more best dancey tracks on the album, combining a riff similar to “The Way You Used To” with synths, which are heard throughout the album.
“Head Like A Haunted House” is a fun track and should be a live favorite, with a Nirvanaesque hooky riff.
Villains definitely works when it is at its most ambitious, those are the strongest tracks, while the more by the numbers tracks don’t quite work as well. The album is not as powerful or consistent as …Like Clockwork on first listen (though that could change later), but there are definitely some great tracks for longtime fans.
