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The best music is often born of pain and patience. It's been six years since the last Queens of the Stone Age album, and with inter-band rifts, existential crises and near-death experiences, it's safe to say that Josh Homme and co have had plenty of both.
Finally, the time has come for the Queens to drop their long-awaited sixth album '...Like Clockwork'.
Much has been said about the months of toil in the California desert. After leaving their mark on everyone from Arctic Monkeys to Biffy Clyro in recent years, QOTSA have long been one of the most respected rock bands on the planet. It only stands to reason that they should attract help from across the spectrum of rock royalty in the form of contributions from Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, former QOTSA and Kyuss bassist Nick Oliveri, Alex Turner and even appearance from Scissor Sister Jake Shears and Sir Elton John.
But can Homme and co live up to hype? Can they make the desert bloom fruitful once again? Let's take a listen and find out...
'Keep Your Eyes Peeled'
The sounds of breaking glass and ominous goings on get things off to a fittingly menacing start before a swampy dirge of a bassline leads the album down to some pretty dark depths. Not even the backing vocals courtesy of The Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears can brighten the tone from its waltzing nausea. None of this is criticism – it’s ace, and the perfect opener for what follows. Rather than leaning on past glories or formulae, Queens of the Stone Age are back, they’re bad-ass and they’ve got the balls to do whatever the hell they feel like.
'I Sat By The Ocean'
As debuted on Later With Jools Holland earlier this month, the secret to this track is its subtle swagger. “Silence is closer, we’re passing ships in the night,” spits Homme as the slow-burning slice of stoner-rock psychedelia builds to a pretty sweet guitar-duel release.
'The Vampyre of Time and Memory'
“I want God to come and take me home, because I’m all alone in this crowd,” mourns Homme over a lamentful piano ballad in one of QOTSA’s most tender and intimate moments to date. The usually fierce ‘Ginger Elvis’ Homme really opens up in a refreshingly exposed reflection on love and loss as he pines “does anyone ever get this right? I feel no love” and “to be vulnerable is needed most of all if you intend to truly fall apart”. Lovely stuff. Heartbreaking.
'If I Had A Tail'
“Kichy kichy, ooh la la,” struts Homme with a furled lip as the sassy QOTSA from ‘Sick Sick Sick’ and ‘I’m Designer’ make a welcome return on this sexy burst of heat and hedonism. Plus it features drums from Dave Grohl and backing vocals from Alex Turner AND Nick Oliveri. That’s every barrel locked, cocked and ready to unload. Come get some.
'My God Is The Sun'
The world’s first taste of ‘…Like Clockwork came courtesy of this scorching rush of desert rock. Like ‘Monsters In The Parasol’ and ‘Go With The Flow’ before it, ‘My God Is The Sun’ carries itself with that thrilling pace of a race through the wasteland to make it another instant QOTSA classic.
'Kalopsia'
“Rose-tinted eyes colour my sorrows a shade of white – bye bye black balloon,” cries Homme on this unsettlingly touching acid-fuelled swoon about ‘things appearing more beautiful than they actually are. But make no mistake, as one of QOTSA’s more experimental and emotive moments, this is every inch as beautiful as it seems. Plus, with a title from the brain of Alex Turner and backing vocals from the mouth of Trent Reznor what more do you want?
'Fairweather Friends'
Forget everything you thought you knew about Elton John. He certainly knows how to rock out with the best of them. Adding some pretty stately backing vocals and dizzying piano-work to this cunning little beast, Sir Elton spits in the face of his balladeering reputation to do some pretty twisted things with a set of ivories. Lad.
'Smooth Sailing'
Oof! Boy, is that sexy? Strutting like a peacock on MDMA, ‘Smooth Sailing’ licks its lips and smacks a cheeky kiss on the face of an otherwise pretty dark affair. Homme’s devilish musings on “bruises and hickies” as he ‘blows his load over the status quo’ along with some pretty chunky drums and mean guitarwork oughtta make this a live favourite in years to come. Not only is it an album highlight, but scientists are currently testing its aphrodisiac qualities. There are going to be some very horny monkeys out there.
'I Appear Missing'
“Shock me awake – tear me apart” runs the pretty grim chorus as Homme and co bring the mood back with one last slow-motion charge through fire and brimstone in a tale of a conflicted identity. Clocking in at just over six minutes, ‘I Appear Missing’ is the longest and most meandering track on ‘…Clockwork’ and one of Josh’s most tortured insights.
'Like Clockwork'
Ending the album on a soothingly sombre note, the John Lennon-esque title track reveals the true nature of the twisted turmoil that Homme went through during the making of the record. The inter-band splits, the depression, the dice with death and the fear of the uncertain future all come to a head as he vulnerably muses: “holding on too long is just a fear of letting go, because not everything that goes around comes back around you know…one thing that is clear – it’s all downhill from here.” It was certainly a great ride for us.
Verdict:
Certainly the best QOTSA record since Songs for the Deaf, …Like Clockwork is a different beast entirely to its predecessors – but it’s still one hell of a beast. Rather than leaning on guest collaborators as a crutch, Homme has subtly interweaved their contributions to make a layered and intense listening experience.
Leaving behind the dad-rock of Them Crooked Vultures and the mindless hedonism of Eagles of Death Metal, ‘Clockwork’ sees the Queens racing into the unknown and totally owning it. Sure, it’s full of fear, fire and fury – but it’s also Queens of the Stone Age more personal and powerful than ever.
In a year of strong contenders, QOTSA may have just dropped the best rock record of 2013. Now watch its aftermath bloom like a mushroom cloud.
