Text by Pedro Tiepolo
With a 25-year career, vocalist and leader Josh Homme is the only constant in the numerous different formations of Queens of the Stone Age , a band that has included members ranging from Mark Lanegan to Dave Grohl . These lineup changes are no accident, appearing to be an intentional decision to avoid inertia and continue experimenting with different sounds. The new album, In Times New Roman… , the group's 8th studio album, is curiously the first time the band's lineup has remained the same for two consecutive albums. Initially, this could be interpreted as a sign that the band has settled into a comfortable lineup, finding a certain comfort zone; but comfort is the last word that can be used to describe the situation in which this album was made.
Josh Homme's personal life has been tumultuous and tragic in the six years since Villains , the band's last album. In addition to the deaths of several close friends during this period (including Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the Foo Fighters ), he was publicly exposed in the media for months in a contentious divorce , having to fight for custody of his children in a case that culminated in a restraining order against his ex-wife. To complete the sequence of tragic events, Homme also recently revealed that during this same period he was diagnosed with cancer, which has now been successfully treated with surgery.
All the sadness that the vocalist experienced, as one can imagine, permeates the 10 tracks of his band's new album. But, instead of adopting a depressive and defeated tone, what is surprising is the unconventional way in which Homme approaches the theme. He treats his situation in an irreverent and somewhat humorous way, pointing out the absurdity of all the tragedies he has lived through, which are also inevitable in all of our lives. It's a place of acceptance of reality, a perspective that is well defined in the track "Carnavoyeur": "When there's nothing I can do, I smile and enjoy the view."
Musically, the band's current lineup demonstrates all the mastery and synergy built up over the years, with instrumentals that seem to perfectly reflect Homme's mental state: tracks reminiscent of the dark sound of the album Lullabies to Paralyze , such as the intriguing "Sicily," coexist perfectly with songs overloaded with energy, like the punk side of "What The Peephole Say," the Bowie of "Made to Parade," or the immediacy of "Paper Machete." The lyrics act as the guiding thread of the entire album, and even with his good humor, witty remarks, and puns, Homme shows himself to be more vulnerable than ever, dealing with heavy personal themes in a much more direct way than on the group's other albums.
The album culminates in an intense finale with “Straight Jacket Fitting,” a massive nine-minute track with diverse parts, encompassing captivating rhythms and dramatic orchestrations. It's a high point of the album both musically and lyrically, serving as a synthesis of the entire album. After a verse in which he indignantly denounces all the problems he sees in society, Homme confesses: “Hold me, I’m confused and I don’t want to leave.” In Times New Roman… is a captivating, profound, and intense album without getting lost in the melancholy of reality. As the vocalist stated in an interview, “We’re on the Titanic, and sinking… but meanwhile, the band is playing. What do you want to hear?”
