10 Best Rock Albums Of 2021

IDLES only released their fourth album this month but already people are raving about it. Joe Talbot demonstrates a whole new side of his vocal abilities, and the band have mixed things up when it comes to crafting songs. With a number of slower melodies that draw in elements of gloomy '80s new-wave, the band could have been in danger of alienating some of their more hard core fans.

But the risk has paid, off. This album contains some of their strongest material to date. The opening to the album, comes in the form of the slow burning, industrial beat driven, MTT 420 RR. A track that hears Talbot ruminating about a car crash he was involved with. It's a bold and chilling way to start off the album.

Talbot has never shied away from sharing the intimate aspects of his life, but previously he's been able to mask the vulnerability behind his aggressive delivery. This record is different. Slowing things down and adding some nuances to his voice, has stripped away the macho postering.

When The Lights Come On, contains bass parts and eery synth elements, reminiscent of early Joy Division. Crawl, sees the band play with a more uptempo chord progression, with a lighter tone that helps balance the album out. They've still got the numbers that curb stomp their way through your speakers, but the emotional impact of this record comes from a very different direction.

They've found a new sound and it works.