Brutalism

"Perhaps Brutalism's most vital aspect is that it helps to articulate the anger - an emotion often difficult to communicate effectively - that the disenfranchised feel toward self-serving members of the elite; that it does this with intelligence, catharsis, and a wry smile makes for a necessary and thrilling listen from start to finish".

Read review

"In the months since release, Brutalism has lost none of its bite and stands peerless as a staggering album of unmatched sincerity and self-assuredness. Above all else, it reminds us that honesty really is the best policy. It certainly isn't the album that any of us were expecting at the start of 2017, but is an essential piece of work that we are extremely lucky to have".

Read review

"When My Architect came out in 2003 and fueled recent reappraisals of Brutalist architecture, one point the documentary made was that the harsh, military bunker-like concrete exteriors of these buildings were poured around idealist notions about the future of post-war society. Idles, too, are idealists, and the fury of Brutalism is defensive reaction to the failure of that post-war society, and sometimes their own failure, to live up to those ideals. It would be reasonable to expect a lot more music in the coming few years to wade into this conflict, and in fact you can see it beginning to happen in some corners. If Idles are the right band for right now, that's partly because they're willing to stare down the ugly truths, even those in the mirror, and demand better".

Read review