Joy as an Act of Resistance.
Joy as an Act of Resistance. uses a hard sound to deliver an unusually open message. IDLES sing about vulnerability, connection and leaving harmful ideas about masculinity behind. The guitars scream and the rhythms hit firmly, but the music also wants to bring people together. That combination gives the record its strength.
Colossus starts with bare, threatening bass and slowly builds tension. When the band finally move much faster, it feels like an earned release. This gives the opening more weight than an immediate attack would have provided. Never Fight A Man With A Perm follows with a blunt, strong chorus and a sharp look at inflated macho behaviour.
Danny Nedelko turns a call for solidarity with immigrants into a cheerful, direct punk song. The message is easy to follow, and the playing takes obvious pleasure in the music's movement. Samaritans also connects clear words to a convincing rhythmic attack. Strong songs carry the opinions rather than simply backing a speech.
The darker side remains present. June slows things down with a spare, painful song about loss. That pause matters on an album that often maintains the same heavy rhythmic pressure. The tracks have plenty of character individually, but some can sound too similar when placed together. The sequence does not always bring out every nuance.
Still, the combination of conviction, humour and emotion counts for a great deal. IDLES sound involved and committed; they make their points clearly and leave room for others to join in. Joy as an Act of Resistance. is sometimes tiring, but has strong melodies and enough humanity behind its volume. Its best songs show how welcoming a heavy record can be.
