Joy As An Act Of Resistance.

Despite lacking the element of surprise, Idles' second album finds the band as vital as ever while simultaneously exploring darker and lighter hues; they have managed to follow up on Brutalism with a record that is not only more explosive but also doubles down on humor and genuine sentiment. Clearly, they've been taking cues from their live shows -- which have increased exponentially since their debut -- as Joy as an Act of Resistance is just as chaotic but isn't quite as tight and often feels like it's bursting at the seams. What remains irrefutable is the sense of urgency, delivered to such a degree that it casts shade on other bands who claim to be raucous. Proceedings start in familiar territory, with opening track "Colossus" mimicking the buildup structure of "Heel/Heal" before launching into a stream of pop culture references -- of which there are many throughout the record. From there, much of Joy as an Act of Resistance is an often hilarious trip through a myriad of societal is