Villains
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Villains Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 227 Ratings

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  • Summary: The seventh full-length studio release for the rock band led by Josh Homme was produced by Mark Ronson.
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Top Track

Fortress
Your heart is like a fortress Keep your feelings locked away Is it easier? Does it make you feel safe? You wander through the darkness Of wilderness... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. DIY Magazine
    Aug 25, 2017
    100
    As a whole, Villains is the Californian filthmongers’ most danceable offering yet--and all the better for it.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Aug 24, 2017
    85
    The evolution of Queens of the Stone Age has been slow and steady; and 20 years in the band still sounds amazingly energized.
  3. Q Magazine
    Aug 10, 2017
    80
    QOTSA's seventh album wisely tweaks the recipe just enough to keep things spicy. [Sep 2017, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 24, 2017
    80
    This, then, is the sound of living in the moment and it’s glorious.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Aug 25, 2017
    75
    On the whole, Villains isn’t Homme’s strongest collection of songwriting. That said, it’s the first Queens Of The Stone Age album where the sounds behind it are consistently strong enough to carry the load.
  6. PopMatters
    Sep 12, 2017
    70
    This record is strong from top to bottom, and another great entry into Queens of the Stone Age’s catalog.
  7. Under The Radar
    Aug 25, 2017
    50
    It'll be of concern to Queens purists that Villains pulls from sounds that expired a decade ago and beyond. Dwelling on better times of a bygone era is a fundamental pillar of escapism, but it's disconcerting when one of the most uncompromising, forward-thinking bands in the rock pantheon leans so heavily on what worked in the past that they forget that the onus is on them to innovate.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 56
  3. Negative: 14 out of 56
  1. dare
    Aug 25, 2017
    10
    Instant classic. Deep, beautiful, funny, dark, slow, fast, rock, dance, pop, brutal, honest, loud, sexy,... this requires multiple listeningInstant classic. Deep, beautiful, funny, dark, slow, fast, rock, dance, pop, brutal, honest, loud, sexy,... this requires multiple listening to appreciate and to realize what a masterpiece it is.… Expand
  2. DanielLapsansky
    Aug 25, 2017
    10
    It sounds different than their other records, but sure it's good. Adding a new synths was a good idea. Sometimes the drums feel a bitIt sounds different than their other records, but sure it's good. Adding a new synths was a good idea. Sometimes the drums feel a bit artificially, but mostly it is not recognizable. When I first listened to it I was like "meh" but it gets better every time you listen to it.… Expand
  4. J-Tag
    Aug 25, 2017
    9
    This album is glorious. It sounds like a "Best Of" of their last three albums (Clockwork, Era Vulgaris and Lullabies). It's not as 'dancy' asThis album is glorious. It sounds like a "Best Of" of their last three albums (Clockwork, Era Vulgaris and Lullabies). It's not as 'dancy' as a lot of the critics suggest – rest assured, this is QOTSA doing what they do best. There are enjoyable robot-rock moments ("Feet Don't Fail Me", "Head Like A Haunted House") and addictive experimental, simmery rock ("Domesticated Animals, "The Evil Has Landed") but for me, the best tracks are the mellower arrangements. "Fortress" is just about as sentimental as Josh Homme can get, and "Hideaway" is a gorgeous throwback to Lullabies/Era Vulgaris' softer rock tracks. However, the real masterpiece and highlight of the album lies at the very end of the record – "Villains of Circumstance" is an epic, atmospheric stunner. There's something to love about each track, and it's probably QOTSA's most accessible album to date. It's a must-listen if you've been craving some real rock, which is something the world has unfortunately been starved for a while now.… Expand
  5. govi
    Aug 28, 2017
    7
    I cant believe the bad reviews on this one. I do get it, they sound like QOTSA and they are supposed to. Their essence, just like theI cant believe the bad reviews on this one. I do get it, they sound like QOTSA and they are supposed to. Their essence, just like the majority of musicians and bands (put it this way, 90% of them), will never go away. To me, its better than Era Vulgaris but I find Songs for the deaf and Lullabies to Paralyze to be their strongest albums. Its worth to be part of the collection. It has songs that could fit in Like Clorkwork and others that could fit in Era Vulgaris and others in Rated R because of their similar sounds. Still, a great to own album IMO.… Expand
  6. macq
    Aug 29, 2017
    5
    I gave this record a lot of spins mainly because QOTSA used to be my favourite band. It was boring the first time I listened to it and theI gave this record a lot of spins mainly because QOTSA used to be my favourite band. It was boring the first time I listened to it and the feeling hasn't changed since.… Expand
  7. lennycliff123
    Aug 25, 2017
    3
    I don't care what the critics say, for me Villains is a major disappointment! When it was announced that the album was going to be a poppier,I don't care what the critics say, for me Villains is a major disappointment! When it was announced that the album was going to be a poppier, more danceable record I was intrigued. As a fan of EODM I thought this could be a great change of direction. What we've got instead are 9 mostly forgettable songs that outstay their welcome long before the end.

    Easily the worst QOTSA record to date in this fans opinion.    … Expand
  8. JaneMetascore
    Dec 18, 2019
    0
    This album has terribly formulamatic, predictable, and unmercilessly brief songwriting, like it regurgitates something that should have stayedThis album has terribly formulamatic, predictable, and unmercilessly brief songwriting, like it regurgitates something that should have stayed in 1998. Technically this isn't strong enough to hold together as an album, and it shouldn't have been released. This is the first time a band revealed it is worse than Pink Floyd, when Jonny Rotten decried hatred upon Floyd. This band is too weak to carry on any further.… Expand

See all 56 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Most Discussed Album of 2017
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2017

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