Album Review: IDLES - 'Ultra Mono'
IDLES, the leaders of the new punk revolution have returned and are at their very best with their third album ‘Ultra Mono’.
This Bristolian troupe have gone from strength to strength since seemingly dropping out of nowhere only three years ago to become one of the biggest, best and most important bands on the planet with their honesty and humorous on the injustices that swallow our society.
A lot has changed in the world since the band’s seminal LP 2018’s ‘Joy as an Act of Resistance’, mainly in the attitude of the masses with more and more people beginning to hold the powers at the top bang to rights. That increase does show in ‘Ultra Mono’, with it being the band’s most accessible album to date in terms of sound, but IDLES certainly don’t let it slip in any other department and if anything step it up to be their strongest album so far.
The group have previously set out what they’re all about which has allowed them to really let loose on ‘Ultra mono’. There’s nothing truer to that than the opening track ‘War’ which is the band banging on their chest and preparing for just that, smacking you over the head repeatedly with heavy drums and guitar and giving you no chance to catch a breath.
Though more accessible, IDLES certainly haven’t lost anything that has brought them to this point and ‘Anxiety’ is the perfect example of that driven by politics and humour woven right throughout. It was also refreshing to see the band dip their toes into something different, with ‘Kill Them With Kindness’ catching you off guard with an intro led by a beautiful piano piece before dragging you right back into the pit by your ankles.
‘Model Village’ which was the latest cut from ‘Ultra Mono’ is personally this band at the pinnacle of their powers in terms of lyrics and a cutting sound that picks you up and spits you out just as quickly. The closing tracks of the LP really leave you on a knifes edge with ‘The Lover’ a truly erratic anthem.
You could never deny this band’s work ethic or commitment to their craft and to their cause to try and change things through their music. But what ‘Ultra Mono’ does is really speak for the increasing conscious of the masses to what is happening around them and this will be soundtrack that will be at the forefront of this new revolution.
‘Ultra Mono’ is available now on all major streaming platforms and IDLES will kick off their UK tour at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow on May 7th 2021.
Words by Danial Kennedy