IDLES is a band of vital importance for the current music scene. Their sound spanks punk, indie, hardcore, noise, and electro, while their lyrics address issues such as toxic masculinity, rape culture, depression and poverty. With justified rage and a menacing sound – angry yet tender – they dispel the myth that artists with a social and political conscience cannot achieve success. They introduced themselves with 2017’s Brutalism, an addictive debut full of tension and cynicism. In 2019, the instant classic “Joy as an Act of Resistance” catapulted them into the stratosphere with tracks like “Never Fight a Man With a Perm,” “Samaritans” and “Danny Nedelko,” a love ode to every immigrant. In 2020, they topped the charts in the UK with the storming ‘Ultra Mono’, followed by the introspective ‘Crawler’ just a year later, in 2021, earning universal acclaim. In 2024, their 5th album, “TANGK”, co-produced by the great Nigel Godrich – long-time collaborator of Radiohead- revealed a brighter side of the band, earning them their second No. 1 in their homeland. Joe Talbot’s vocals are calmer than ever, while the two excellent singles, “Dancer” and “Gift Horse”, are filled with energy and an undeniable urge to dance. Meanwhile, tracks like “Grace” and “Pop, Pop, Pop” remind us of the band’s continuous sonic exploration.
On June 18th, Release Athens welcomes one of the best and most crucial bands of our time, in a night for every music lover – especially those with an eye on the present and future of rock music.
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