Queens of the Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf (Polydor)

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON an album happens along that relights your fire – that brings moribund rock back to life. The odd quasi-supergroup that is QOTSA – Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, Dave Grohl, Mark Lanegan – has made just such a record with the angrily-titled Songs For The Deaf, a 60-minute sonic voyage packed with crunching guitars, brooding riffs, and high desert humour.