Idles – Joy as an Act of Resistance

Review

IDLES' 'Joy as an Act of Resistance' cuts through the noise with a razor-sharp take on everything from toxic masculinity to Brexit. This 2018 release doesn't just throw punches at society's bullshit - it transforms personal pain into something electric. Talbot's vocals hit with raw vulnerability while the band cranks out tracks like 'Danny Nedelko' and 'Never Fight a Man with a Perm' that stick in your head while kicking you in the gut. The Bristol boys aren't here to play nice - they're here to make you feel something real.

The album crashed into the UK top 5 with its take-no-prisoners approach to grief and self-loathing, wrapped in a sound that Space, Greenspan and Launay polished to perfection without sacrificing an ounce of its edge. What makes this record straight fire is how it flips trauma into power, serving up unity instead of division when everyone else was busy building walls. IDLES created something visceral that fights back against the darkness - not with empty slogans but with sweat, blood and genuine heart. British rock needed this kick in the teeth. - Rafe