Queens of the Stone Age: Like Clockwork

The six years that have passed since the misfiring Era Vulgaris have been a “dark period” according to Queens Of The Stone Age leader Josh Homme. It shows on their sixth album, which finds the ginger giant gathering old friends (Dave Grohl, Nick Oliveiri, Mark Lanegan) and some surprising voices (Elton John, Jake Shears) to add heft and relocate the glories of their first two classic albums.
Despite the ensemble cast, however, Homme rules the roost. Supporting vocals are buried deep (Alex Turner is relegated to the death of the unreconstructed ‘If I Had A Tail’) and feelings of paranoia and loneliness-at-the-party surface. It plays to QOTSA’s considerable strengths – they’ve always been a more intoxicating proposition when they’re not gleefully whacking out testosterone rock. Not that there’s a shortage of gonzo riffage. ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ is a bludgeoning start, recalling their love of Black Sabbath, while ‘I Appear Missing’ plays on the sinister blues of Lennon’s ‘I Want You’. There’s also signature robot rock, with ‘I Sat By The Ocean’ rebooting Rated R’s ‘Leg Of Lamb’. Of course, they’ve done all this before, and half these tracks struggle to match their early power. As for Grohl, well, the departing Joey Castillo leaves a more lasting impression.
The highlights arrive when Homme drops the swagger and flexes his creative muscles. ‘Fairweather Friends’ is a hangers-on putdown that carries a Band On The Run-era McCartney melody, ‘Kalopsia’ is the Queens at their sedated best, sung sleepily from the bottom of the sea, while ‘Smooth Sailing’ is more cocksure, locating a mutant strain of funk that sounds like ZZ Top and Prince jamming as Trent Reznor looks on from the control room. The title-track ends proceedings with knowing lines, “It’s all downhill from here” and the introduction of new drummer Jon Theodore. It starts as a plaintive Neil Young piano ballad before gorgeous guitars send it skyward. QOTSA still have plenty of fight in them. It’s just that, rather than acting like a bruiser, Homme is best when he’s bruised.

Rating: 7/10
Key Track: ‘...Like Clockwork’