Queens of the Stone Age have officially released their eighth studio album In Times New Roman… as a defiant and combative response to recent hardships.
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A lot has changed since 2017 when the band’s last album, Villians, peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200. For frontman Josh Homme, the past six years were full of chaotic turmoil in full public view, including a series of custody disputes with his ex-wife, a recent cancer scare resulting in surgery, and even the passing of his close friend and bandmate Mark Lanegan. The grief, pain, and sheer anger that would result from such upheaval can only be imagined, that is, until now. Album In Times New Roman… is an unprotected rollercoaster experience, fueled by Homme’s own emotional processing.
“I think this is the first time I didn't want to make a record, but I was dealing with a lot of stuff in my personal life,” the singer and guitarist explained in an interview with Revolver. “We recorded a lot of stuff. I think I was doing it because when I'm in trouble, this is what I do. This is where I go to get right.”
Ultimately calling the creation of this album a kind of “therapy,” Queens of the Stone Age left nothing on the table. The album is full of what Homme himself labels, “sonic and lyrical brutality”. Single “Made to Parade” is a cut-and-dry rock anthem, driven by blues, the bass, and old pop filters. All the while, the singer howls, “I did not notice the weight of the chains til they were cut from me / How’d I drag them for so long?” In contrast, the leading single “Emotion Sickness” sounds just as disjointed as, well, being emotionally sick. With Homme calling it a “Frankenstein’s monster of a song,” its melody changes from a stop-and-go yell to vocal harmonies almost impersonating rockabilly.
While the album may seem heavy to new fans, In Times New Roman… not only expresses the band’s experiences of the last six years, but has helped them persevere through it. ”Over the last couple years, I've done a lot of therapy,” Josh Homme told Revolver. “But at the end of the day, I understand how to proceed, moving forward with the religion that I use — music.”
Queens of the Stone Age is set to launch their 2023 North American “The End is Nero” tour this coming August. Tickets are on-sale via Live Nation, and make sure to prepare by streaming In Times New Roman… available now!
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